--- title: "Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation" author: "Adam Clarke" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 757 of 769 url: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/757/ cite: "Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation, section 757. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/757/" --- # 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. ## 757. Revelation · 25 of 37 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/757/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/757/#p-N [¶0] Non potuisse? tuaque animam hanc effundere dextra? [¶1] Saevus ubi Aeacidae telo jacet Hector, ubi ingens [¶2] Sarpedon: ubi tot Simois correpta sub undis [¶3] Scuta virum, galeasque, et fortis corpora volvit. [¶4] Virg., Aen. i., ver. 93. "In horror fix'd the Trojan hero stands, [¶5] He groans, and spreads to heaven his lifted hands. [¶6] Thrice happy those whose fate it was to fall, [¶7] Exclaims the chief, before the Trojan wall! [¶8] O, 'twas a glorious fate to die in fight! [¶9] To die so bravely in their parents' sight! [¶10] O, had I there, beneath Tydides' hand, [¶11] That bravest hero of the Grecian band, [¶12] Pour'd out this soul, with martial glory fired, [¶13] And in the plain triumphantly expired, [¶14] Where Hector fell, by fierce Achilles' spear, [¶15] And great Sarpedon, the renown'd in war; [¶16] Where Simois' stream, encumber'd with the slain, [¶17] Rolls shields and helms and heroes to the main." [¶18] Pitt. [¶19] Which die in the Lord - These are the only glorious dead. They die, not in the field of battle, in either what are called lawful or unlawful wars against their fellow men; but they die in the cause of God, they die under the smile and approbation of God, and they die to live and reign with God for ever and ever. [¶20] From henceforth - Απαρτι· From this time; now; immediately. This word is joined to the following by many MSS. and some versions. It was a maxim among the Jews, that as soon as the souls of the just departed from this life they ascended immediately to heaven. [¶21] Yea, saith the Spirit - The Holy Spirit confirms the declaration from heaven, and assigns the reasons of it. [¶22] That they may rest from their labors - Have no more tribulation and distress. [¶23] And their works do follow there - Εργα αυτων ακολουθει μετ' αυτων· And their works follow With them. They are in company. Here is an elegant prosopopoeia or personification; their good works, sufferings, etc., are represented as so many companions escorting them on their way to the kingdom of God. [¶24] There are some good and pertinent things in the Jewish writers on this subject. "Rabbi Jonathan taught, If a man perform one righteous action in this life, it goes before him into the world to come. But if a man commit one crime, it cleaves to him, and drags him to the day of judgment." Sota, fol. 3, 2. Avoda Sara, fol. 5, 1. "Come and see, If any man observe a precept, that work ascends to God, and says, Such a one performed me. But if a man transgress the law, that sin ascends to the holy blessed God, and says, I came from such a one, who has performed me." Sohar Levit., fol. 34, col. 136. Here the same personification is observed as that in the text. "In that hour in which a man passes from this life into eternity, all his works precede him; and there they say unto him, 'This and that thou hast done in such a place on such a day.' This he shall acknowledge. They shall require that he shall subscribe this with his own hand, as it is written, [Job 37:7]; each man shall subscribe with his own hand; and not only this, but he shall acknowledge that the sentence brought against him is most just." Taanith, fol. 11, 1. [¶25] The following elegant similitude Schoettgen gives from Sepher Hachayim, Part II., fol. 47, 1, 2. "A certain man had three friends, two of whom he loved; but the third he did not highly esteem. On a time the king commanded him to be called before him; and being alarmed, he sought to find an advocate. He went to that friend whom he loved most, but he utterly refused to go with him. The second offered to go with him as far as the door of the king's palace, but refused to speak a word in his behalf. The third, whom he loved least, not only went with him, but pleaded his cause so well before the king that he was cleared from all blame. In like manner, every man has three friends, when he is cited by death to appear before God. The first friend, whom he loved most, viz., his money, cannot accompany him at all. His second, viz., his relations and neighbors, accompanied him only to the grave, and then returned; but could not deliver him from the Judge. The third friend, whom he held but in little esteem, viz., the law and his good works, went with him to the king, and delivered him from judgment." The meaning of this most plainly is, that nothing except the deeds of good and evil men shall accompany them to the judgment-seat of God, and that a man's lot will be in the other world as his conduct has been in this; Their works follow with them. ### Verse 14 [¶27] A white cloud - It is supposed that, from this verse to the end of the chapter, the destruction of Rome is represented under the symbols of harvest and vintage; images very frequent among the ancient prophets, by which they represented the destruction and excision of nations. See [Joe 3:12-14]; [Isa 17:5]; [Isa 63:1]; and [Mat 13:37]. [¶28] A golden crown - In token of victory and regal power. ### Verse 15 [¶30] Thrust in thy sickle - Execute the judgments which God has decreed. [¶31] For the harvest of the earth is ripe - The cup of the people's iniquity is full. ### Verse 16 [¶33] The earth was reaped - The judgments were executed. But where, or on whom, who can tell? ### Verse 18 [¶35] Power over fire - Probably meaning the same angel which is mentioned, [Rev 8:3]; [Rev 9:13], who stood by the altar of burnt-offering, having authority over its fire to offer that incense to God which represents the prayers of the saints. ### Verse 19 [¶37] The great winepress of the wrath of God - The place or kingdom where God executes his judgments on the workers of iniquity, whether pagans or persecuting Christians; Rome pagan, or Rome papal. ### Verse 20 [¶39] Even unto the horse bridles - A hyperbolical expression, to denote a great effusion of blood. The Jews said, "When Hadrian besieged the city called Bitter, he slew so many that the horses waded in blood up to their mouths." The same kind of hyperbole with that above. See Wetstein on this verse. [¶40] The space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs - It is said that the state of the Church, or St. Peter's patrimony, extends from Rome to the Po, two hundred Italian miles, which make exactly one thousand six hundred furlongs! If this be really so, the coincidence is certainly surprising, and worthy of deep regard. [¶41] On these two last verses pious Quesnel thus speaks: "As the favorable sickle of Jesus Christ reaps his wheat when ripe for heaven, so that of the executioners of his justice cuts off from this life the tares which are only fit for the fire of hell. Then shall the blood of Christ cease to be trampled on by sinners; and that of the wicked shall be eternally trodden down in hell, which is the winepress of the wrath of God. "And the winepress was trodden without the city, eternally without the city of the heavenly Jerusalem, and far from the presence of God; eternally crushed and trodden down by his justice; eternally tormented in body and soul, without any hope either of living or dying! This is the miserable lot and portion of those who shall have despised the law of God, and died in impenitence. My God, pierce my heart with a salutary dread of thy judgments!" [¶42] Whatever these passages may mean, this is a prudent and Christian use of them. ### Introduction [¶44] The seven angels with the seven last plagues, [Rev 15:1]. The sea of glass, and those who had a victory over the beast, [Rev 15:2]. The song of Moses and the Lamb, [Rev 15:3], [Rev 15:4]. The temple in heaven opened, [Rev 15:5]. Seven angels come out of the temple, who receive from one of the four living creatures seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, [Rev 15:6-8].