--- title: "Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation" author: "Adam Clarke" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 734 of 769 url: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/734/ cite: "Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation, section 734. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/734/" --- # Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation *Adam Clarke* Clarke's learned notes on the Hebrew and Greek, verse by verse, from Genesis to Revelation: volume 2 of 2. ## 734. Revelation · 2 of 37 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/734/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/734/#p-N [¶0] 9. One head, i.e., the seventh, cut off, [Rev 13:3]. Galba. [¶1] 10. He who leadeth into captivity shall be led into captivity; he who killeth with the sword shall be killed with the sword, [Rev 13:10]. Otho, who subdued the murderers of Galba, and slew himself with a dagger, Vitellius, who bound Sabinus with chains and was himself afterwards bound. [¶2] 11. Another beast rising out of the earth, with two horns, [Rev 13:11]. Vespasian and his two and, Titus and Domitian, elected emperors at the same time in Judea. [¶3] 12. The number of the wild beast, 666, the number of a man, Teitan, Titan or Titus: T, 300. E, 5. I, 10. T, 300. A, 1. N. 50, making in the whole 666. [But some very respectable MSS. have 616 for the number; if the N be taken away from Teitan, then the letters in Teita make exactly the sum 616]. [¶4] 13. A man sitting upon a cloud, unity a crown of gold upon his head, and a sickle in his hand, [Rev 14:14]. Otho and his army, about to prevent supplies for the army of Vitellius. [¶5] 14. An angel of fire commanding another angel to gather the vintage; the winepress trodden whence the blood flows out 1600 furlongs. The followers of Vitellius laying all waste with fire; and the Bebriaci conquering the followers of Otho with great slaughter. [¶6] Then follow the seven plagues: - [¶7] 1. The grievous sore, [Rev 16:2]. The diseases of the soldiers of Vitellius through intemperance. [¶8] 2. The sea turned into blood, [Rev 16:3]. The fleet of Vitellius beaten, and the maritime towns taken from them by the Flavii. [¶9] 3. The rivers turned into blood, [Rev 16:4]. The slaughter of the adherents of Vitellius, at Cremona and elsewhere, near rivers. [¶10] 4. The scorching of the sun, [Rev 16:8]. The diseases of the Vitellii increasing, and their exhausted bodies impatient of the heat. [¶11] 5. The seat of the beast darkened, [Rev 16:10]. All Rome in commotion through the torpor of Vitellius. [¶12] 6. Euphrates dried up, and a way made for the kings of the east; and the three unclean spirits like frogs. The Flavii besieging Rome with a treble army; one part of which was by the bank of the Tiber. [¶13] The shame of him who is found asleep and naked. Vitellius, [Rev 16:15]. Armageddon, [Rev 16:16]. The praetorian camps. [¶14] 7. The fall of Babylon, [Rev 16:19]. The sacking of Rome. [¶15] 1. The whore, [Rev 17:1]. Rome. [¶16] 2. The seven kings, [Rev 17:10]. Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, and Galba. [¶17] 3. The eighth, which is of the seven, [Rev 17:11]. Otho, destined by adoption to be the son and successor of Galba. [¶18] 4. The ten horns, [Rev 17:12-16]. The leaders of the Flavian factions. [¶19] 5. The merchants of the earth, [Rev 18:11]; i.e., of Rome, which was then the emporium of the whole world. [¶20] 6. The beast and the false prophet, [Rev 19:20]. Vespasian and his family, contrary to all expectation, becoming extinct in Domitian, as the first family of the Caesars, and of the three princes, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. [¶21] 7. The millennium, or a thousand years, [Rev 20:2]. Taken from [Psa 90:4], a time appointed by God, including the space of forty years, from the death of Domitian to the Jewish war under Adrian. [¶22] 8. Gog and Magog, going out over the earth, [Rev 20:8]. Barchochebas, the false Messiah, with an immense army of the Jews, coming forth suddenly from their caves and dens, tormenting the Christians, and carrying on a destructive war with the Romans. [¶23] 9. The New Jerusalem, [Rev 21:1], [Rev 21:2]. The Jews being brought so low as to be capable of injuring no longer; the whole world resting after being expiated by wars; and the doctrine of Christ propagated and prevailing everywhere with incredible celerity. [¶24] Wetstein contends (and he is supported by very great men among the ancients and moderns) that "the book of the Revelation was written before the Jewish war, and the civil wars in Italy; that the important events which took place at that time, the greatest that ever happened since the foundation of the world, were worth enough of the Divine notice, as the affairs of his Church were so intimately connected with them; that his method of exposition proves the whole book to be a well-connected, certain series of events; but the common method of interpretation, founded on the hypothesis that the book was written after the destruction of Jerusalem, is utterly destitute of certainty, and leaves every commentator to the luxuriance of his own fancy, as is sufficiently evident from what has been done already on this book; some interpreters leading the reader now to Thebes, now to Athens, and finding in the words of the sacred penman Constantine the Great; Arius, Luther, Calvin; the Jesuits; the Albigenses; the Bohemians; Chemnitius; Elizabeth, queen of England; Cecil, her treasurer; and who not?" - See Wetstein's Gr. Test., vol. ii. p. 889. [¶25] Those who consider the Apocalypse as a prophecy and scenical exhibition of what shall happen to the Christian Church to the end of the world, lay this down as a proposition, which comprises the subject of the whole book: The contest of Christ with his enemies; and his final victory and triumph over them. See [1Cor 15:25]; Matthew 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-38. But what is but briefly hinted in the above scriptures, is detailed at large in the Apocalypse, and represented by various images nearly in the following order: - [¶26] 1. The decrees of the Divine providence, concerning what is to come, are declared to John. [¶27] 2. The manner in which these decrees shall be executed is painted in the most vivid colors. [¶28] 3. Then follow thanksgivings to God, the ruler and governor of all things, for these manifestations of his power, wisdom and goodness. [¶29] After the exordium, and the seven epistles to the seven Churches of Asia Minor, to whose angels or bishops the book seems to be dedicated, (Revelation 1:1-3:22), the scene of the visions is opened in heaven, full of majesty; and John receives a promise of a revelation relative to the future state of the Church, Revelation 4:1-5:14. [¶30] The enemies of the Church of Christ which the Christians had then most to fear were the Jews, the heathens, and the false teachers. All these are overcome by Christ, and over them he triumphs gloriously. First of all, punishments are threatened to the enemies of the kingdom of Christ, and the preservation of his own followers in their greatest trials determined; and these determinations are accompanied with the praises and thanksgivings of all the heavenly inhabitants, and of all good men, Revelation 6:1-10:11. [¶31] The transactions of the Christian religion are next recorded, Revelation 11:1-14:5. The Christians are persecuted: - [¶32] 1. By the Jews; but they were not only preserved, but they increase and prosper. [¶33] 2. By the heathens; but in vain do these strive to overthrow the kingdom of Christ, which is no longer confined within the limits of Judea, but spreads among the Gentiles, and diffuses itself over the whole Roman empire, destroying idolatry, and rooting out superstition, in every quarter, Revelation 12:1-13:10. [¶34] 3. False teachers and impostors of various kinds, under the name of Christians, but enemies of the cross of Christ, more intent on promoting the interests of idolatry or false worship than the cause of true religion, [Rev 13:11-18], exert their influence to corrupt and destroy the Church; but, notwithstanding, Christianity becomes more extended, and true believers more confirmed in their holy faith, [Rev 14:1-5]. Then new punishments are decreed against the enemies of Christ, both Jews and heathens: the calamities coming upon the Jewish nation before its final overthrow are pointed out, Revelation 14:1-15:8. Next follows a prediction of the calamities which shall take place during the Jewish war; and the civil wars of the Romans during the contentions of Otho and Vitellius, Revelation 16:1-16, who are to suffer most grievous punishments for their cruelties against the Christians, Revelation 17:1-18. The Jewish state being now finally overthrown, Revelation 18:1-24, the heavenly inhabitants give praise to God for his justice and goodness; Christ is congratulated for his victory over his enemies, and the more extensive progress of his religion, [Rev 19:1-10]. [¶35] Opposition is, however, not yet totally ended: idolatry again lifts up its head, and new errors are propagated; but over these also Christ shows himself to be conqueror, [Rev 19:11-21]. Finally, Satan, who had long reigned by the worship of false gods, errors, superstitions, and wickedness, is deprived of all power and influence; and the concerns of Christianity go on gloriously, [Rev 20:1-6]. But towards the end of the world new enemies arise, and threaten destruction to the followers of Christ; but in vain is their rage, God appears in behalf of his servants, and inflicts the most grievous punishments upon their adversaries, [Rev 20:6-10]. The last judgment ensues, [Rev 20:11-15], all the wicked are punished, and the enemies of the truth are chained, so as to be able to injure the godly no more; the genuine Christians, who had persevered unto death, are brought to eternal glory; and, freed from all adversities, spend a life that shall never end, in blessedness that knows no bounds, Revelation 21:1-22:21. See Rosenmuller. [¶36] Eichhorn takes a different view of the plan of this book; though in substance not differing much from that above. According to this writer the whole is represented in the form of a drama, the parts of which are the following: [¶37] I. The title, [Rev 1:1-3]. [¶38] II. The prologue, Revelation 1:4-3:22; in which it is stated that the argument of the drama refers to the Christians; epistles being sent to the Churches, which, in the symbolic style, are represented by the number seven. [¶39] Next follows the drama itself, the parts of which are: - [¶40] The prolusio, or prelude, Revelation 4:1-8:5; in which the scenery is prepared and adorned. [¶41] Act the first, Revelation 8:6-12:17. Jerusalem is taken, and Judaism vanquished by Christianity. [¶42] Act the second, Revelation 13:1-20:10. Rome is conquered, and heathenism destroyed by the Christian religion. [¶43] Act the third, Revelation 20:11-22:5. The New Jerusalem descends from heaven; or the happiness of the life to come, and which is to endure for ever, is particularly described, [Rev 22:6-11]. Taken in this sense, Eichhorn supposes the work to be most exquisitely finished, and its author to have had a truly poetic mind, polished by the highest cultivation; to have been accurately acquainted with the history of all times and nations, and to have enriched himself with their choicest spoils. [¶44] My readers will naturally expect that I should either give a decided preference to some one of the opinions stated above, or produce one of my own; I can do neither, nor can I pretend to explain the book: I do not understand it; and in the things which concern so sublime and awful a subject, I dare not, as my predecessors, indulge in conjectures. I have read elaborate works on the subject, and each seemed right till another was examined. I am satisfied that no certain mode of interpreting the prophecies of this book has yet been found out, and I will not add another monument to the littleness or folly of the human mind by endeavoring to strike out a new course. I repeat it, I do not understand the book; and I am satisfied that not one who has written on the subject knows any thing more of it than myself. I should, perhaps, except J. E. Clarke, who has written on the number of the beast. His interpretation amounts nearly to demonstration; but that is but a small part of the difficulties of the Apocalypse: that interpretation, as the most probable ever yet offered to the public, shall be inserted in its proper place; as also his illustration of the xiith, xiiith, and xviith chapters. As to other matters, I must leave them to God, or to those events which shall point out the prophecy; and then, and probably not till then, will the sense of these visions be explained.