Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/robertsn/rwp-re/re15.rwp

Text File | 1993-03-13 | 6KB | 106 lines

15:1 {Another sign in heaven} (\allo sêmeion en tôi ouranôi\).
Looking back to #12:1,3|, after the series intervening. The Seven
Bowls are parallel with the Seven Seals (ch. #Re 6|) and the
Seven Trumpets (chapters #Re 8-11|), but there is an even closer
connection with chapters #Re 12-14|, "the drama of the long
conflict between the church and the world" (Swete). {Great and
marvellous} (\mega kai thaumaston\). \Thaumastos\ is an old
verbal adjective (from \thaumazô\, to wonder) and is already in
#Mt 21:42|. The wonder extends to the end of this vision or sign
(#16:21|). {Seven angels} (\aggelous hepta\). Accusative case in
apposition with \sêmeion\ after \eidon\. Cf. #8:2|. {Which are
the last} (\tas eschatas\). "Seven plagues the last." As in
#21:9|, "the final cycle of such visitations" (Swete). {Is
finished} (\etelesthê\). Proleptic prophetic first aorist passive
indicative of \teleô\ as in #10:7|. The number seven seems
particularly appropriate here for finality and completeness.

15:2 {As it were a glassy sea} (\hôs thalassan hualinên\).
Accusative case after \eidon\ and \hôs\ here, not in #4:6|, which
see for the symbol. {Mingled with fire} (\memigmenên puri\).
Perfect passive participle of \mignumi\, to mix, and the
associative instrumental case \puri\. This item not in #4:6| (a
vision of peace), but here it adds to the splendour of the
vision. This parenthesis (#2-4|) gives a picture of the martyrs
in their state of bliss. {Them that come off victorious} (\tous
nikôntas\). Present active articular participle of \nikaô\,
accusative after \eidon\, "those that come off victorious"
(#14:4|). {From the beast and from his image} (\ek tou thêriou
kai ek tês eikonos autou\). This use of \ek\ after \nikaô\ is
unusual, also with \ek tou arithmou\. For these items see
#13:1,14,17; 14:9,11; 19:20; 20:4|. {By the glassy sea} (\epi tên
thalassan tên hualinên\). Or "upon" more likely (#4:6|) with the
accusative as in #Mt 14:25ff|. {Harps of God} (\kitharas tou
theou\). Objective genitive, for the worship of God (#5:8; 14:2;
1Ch 16:42|).

15:3 {The song of Moses} (\tên ôidên tou Môuseôs\). #Ex 14:31;
15:1-19|. A song of victory like that of Moses after crossing the
Red Sea. {And the song of the Lamb} (\tên ôidên tou arniou\). A
separate note of victory like that of Moses, though one song, not
two. Charles finds it impossible to reconcile the two
expressions, if genuine, but it is a needless objection. The
words come from the O.T.: "great" (\megala\) from #Ps 111:2|,
"wonderful" (\thaumasta\) from #Ps 139:14|, "O Lord God the
Almighty" (\Kurie ho theos ho pantokratôr\) from #Am 4:13| (#Re
4:8|), "righteous and true" (\dikaiai kai alêthinai\) from #De
32:4|, "Thou King of the ages" (\ho basileus tôn aiônôn\) like
#Jer 10:10; 1Ti 1:17|. Some MSS. have "the king of the saints"
and some "the king of the nations," like #Jer 10:7|. John thus
combines in Hebraic tone the expressions of the old and the new
in the song to the Glorified Messiah.

15:4 {Who shall not fear?} (\tis ou mê phobêthêi;\). Rhetorical
question with \ou mê\ (double negative) and first aorist passive
subjunctive of \phobeomai\ future passive in #Jer 10:7|). {And
glorify} (\kai doxasei\). Change here to the future indicative
instead of the aorist subjunctive, as often. Cf. #Ps 86:9|. {Thou
only art holy} (\monos hosios\). Both predicate adjectives, "Thou
art alone holy." God alone is perfectly holy (#16:5|). {Shall
come} (\hêxousin\). Future active of \hêkô\. {And worship} (\kai
proskunêsousin\). Future active of \proskuneô\. Both from #Ps
86:9|. {Have been made manifest} (\ephanerôthêsan\). Prophetic
first aorist passive indicative of \phaneroô\. This martyr's song
has the ring of great poetry.

15:5 {The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony} (\ho naos
tês skênês tou marturiou\). Charles calls this "strange"
language. Probably the tabernacle or tent of witness (#Nu 9:15;
17:7|) is in mind and the tent of meeting (#Ex 27:21| rather than
the temple in Jerusalem. {Was opened} (\ênoigê\). Second aorist
passive indicative of \anoigô\ as in #11:19|. For \naos\ see
#3:12; 7:15; 14:15,17; 16:1,17|.

15:6 {There came out} (\exêlthan\). Second aorist active
indicative of \exerchomai\ with \-an\ rather than \-on\.
Proleptic and prophetic aorist. {The seven angels} (\hoi hepta
aggeloi\). Those in verse #1|. {The seven plagues} (\tas hepta
plêgas\). The bowls are not given them till verse #7|. {Arrayed}
(\endedumenoi\). Perfect passive participle of \enduô\. {With
precious stone pure and bright} (\lithon katharon lampron\).
Accusative case retained with verb of clothing as so often,
literally "with a stone pure bright." For both adjectives
together see #19:8,14|. Some MSS. read \linon\ (linen). For
\lithon\ see #17:4; 18:16; Eze 28:13|. {Girt} (\periezôsmenoi\).
Perfect passive participle of \perizônnuô\. See #1:13| for both
participles. For \stêthos\ (breast) see #Lu 18:13|. {With golden
girdles} (\zônas chrusâs\). Accusative case after the perfect
passive participle \periezôsmenoi\ as in #1:13|.

15:7 {Seven golden bowls} (\hepta phialas chrusâs\). Golden
saucers, but not full of incense as in #5:8|, but "full
(\gemousas\ for which see #5:8|) of the wrath of God who liveth
for ever and ever" (\tou thumou tou theou tou zôntos eis tous
aiônas tôn aiônôn\). Portents of dreadful events.

15:8 {Was filled with smoke} (\egemisthê kapnou\). First aorist
passive indicative of \gemizô\ (from \gemô\), to fill full, and
with the genitive \kapnou\ (smoke). Smoke is here the symbol of
God's presence (#Ex 19:18; Isa 6:5|). {Till should be finished}
(\achri telesthôsin\). Temporal clause for future time with
\achri\ (equal to \heôs\ in import) and the first aorist passive
subjunctive of \teleô\, a metaphorical and symbolic "smoke
screen" to keep all out of the sanctuary for the time being.