Teks -- Revelation 9:17-21 (NET)

9:17 Now this is what the horses and their riders looked like in my vision: The riders had breastplates that were fiery red, dark blue, and sulfurous yellow in color. The heads of the horses looked like lions’ heads, and fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths. 9:18 A third of humanity was killed by these three plagues, that is, by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths. 9:19 For the power of the horses resides in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails are like snakes, having heads that inflict injuries. 9:20 The rest of humanity, who had not been killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so that they did not stop worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood– idols that cannot see or hear or walk about. 9:21 Furthermore, they did not repent of their murders, of their magic spells, of their sexual immorality, or of their stealing.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rev 9:17 - And thus I saw in the vision

And thus I saw in the vision ( kai houtōs eidon en tēi horasei ).

Nowhere else does John allude to his own vision, though often in Dan. (Dan 7:2; Dan 8:2, Dan 8:15; Dan 9:21).

Robertson: Rev 9:17 - Having

Having ( echontas ).

Accusative masculine plural of echō , probably referring to the riders (tous kathēmenous ep' autōn ) rather than to the horses (tous hippous ).

Robertson: Rev 9:17 - Breastplates as of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone

Breastplates as of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone ( thōrakas purinous kai huakinthinous kai theiōdeis ).

There is no hōs (as) in the Greek, but that is the idea of these three adjectives which are only metaphors. Purinos is an old adjective (from pur , fire), here only in N.T. Huakinthos is also an old word (from huakinthos , hyacinth, then of a sapphire stone Rev 21:20), of a red color bordering on black, here only in the N.T. Theiōdēs is a late word (from theion , brimstone), sulphurous, here only in N.T.

Robertson: Rev 9:17 - As the heads of lions

As the heads of lions ( hōs kephalai leontōn ).

This of the horses, war-horses as always in the Bible except in Isa 28:28. These horses likewise have "fire and smoke and brimstone"(theion , brimstone, is old word, in N.T. only in Rev and Luk 17:29) proceeding (ekporeuetai , singular because it comes first and the subjects afterwards) out of their mouths. Both rider and horse are terrible.

Robertson: Rev 9:18 - By these three plagues

By these three plagues ( apo tōn triōn plēgōn toutōn ).

Our "plague"or stroke from plēssō , as in Luk 10:30 and often in Rev (Rev 9:20; Rev 11:6; Rev 15:1, Rev 15:6, Rev 15:8; Rev 16:9; Rev 18:4, Rev 18:8; Rev 22:18). It is used in Exo 11:1. for the plagues in Egypt. The three plagues here are the fire, smoke, and brimstone which proceed from the mouths of the horses.

Robertson: Rev 9:18 - Was killed

Was killed ( apektanthēsan ).

First aorist passive indicative of apokteinō , to kill, third person plural, though to triton is neuter singular because a collective idea. See same form in Rev 9:20.

Robertson: Rev 9:19 - The power

The power ( hē exousia ).

As in Rev 2:26; Rev 6:8. This power of the horses is both in their mouths (because of the fire, smoke, brimstone) and in their tails, "for their tails are like unto serpents"(hai gar ourai autōn homoiai ophesin ). Associative-instrumental case ophesin after homoiai . Ophis is old word for snake (Mat 7:10).

Robertson: Rev 9:19 - Having heads

Having heads ( echousai kephalas ).

Feminine present active participle of echō , agreeing with ourai (tails).

Robertson: Rev 9:19 - With them

With them ( en autais ).

Instrumental use of en . Surely dreadful monsters.

Robertson: Rev 9:20 - Repented not

Repented not ( ou metenoēsan ).

First aorist active indicative of metanoeō . The two-thirds of mankind still spared did not change their creed or their conduct.

Robertson: Rev 9:20 - Of the works

Of the works ( ek tōn ergōn ).

For this use of ek after metanoeō see Rev 2:21; Rev 9:21; Rev 16:11. By "works"(ergōn ) here idolatries are meant, as the next verse shows.

Robertson: Rev 9:20 - That they should not worship

That they should not worship ( hina mē proskunēsousin ).

Negative purpose clause with hina mē and the future active of proskuneō as in Rev 9:5.

Robertson: Rev 9:20 - Devils

Devils ( ta daimonia ).

Both in the O.T. (Deu 32:17; Psa 96:5; Psa 106:37) and in the N.T. (1Co 10:21) the worship of idols is called the worship of unclean spirits. Perhaps this is one explanation of the hideous faces given these images. "The idols"(ta eidōla 1Jo 5:21, from eidos , form, appearance) represented "demons,"whether made of gold (ta chrusā ) or of silver (ta argurā ) or of brass (ta chalkā ) or of stone (ta lithina ) or of wood (ta xulina ). See Dan 5:23 for this picture of heathen idols. The helplessness of these idols, "which can neither see nor hear nor walk"(ha oute blepein dunantai oute akouein oute peripatein ), is often presented in the O.T. (Psa 115:4; Psa 135:15-18).

Robertson: Rev 9:21 - Of their murders

Of their murders ( ek tōn phonōn autōn ).

Heads the list, but "sorceries"(ek tōn pharmakōn ) comes next. Pharmakon was originally enchantment, as also in Rev 21:8, then drug. For pharmakia see Rev 18:23; Gal 5:20. The two other items are fornication (porneias ) and thefts (klemmatōn , old word from kleptō , here alone in N.T.), all four characteristic of demonic worship and idolatry. See other lists of vices in Mar 7:21; Gal 5:20; Rev 21:8; Rev 22:15. Our word "pharmacy"as applied to drugs and medicine has certainly come a long way out of a bad environment, but there is still a bad odour about "patent medicines."

Vincent: Rev 9:17 - Thus

Thus ( οὕτως )

After this manner.

Vincent: Rev 9:17 - In the vision

In the vision ( ἐν τῇ ὁπάσει )

Or " in my vision." See on Act 2:17. The reference to sight may be inserted because of I heard in Rev 9:16.

Vincent: Rev 9:17 - Of fire

Of fire ( πυρίνους )

Rev., " as of fire ." Fiery red.

Vincent: Rev 9:17 - Of jacinth

Of jacinth ( ὑακινθίνους )

Ὑάκινθος hyacinth is the name of a flower and also of a precious stone. The noun occurs only Rev 21:20, and the adjective only here. According to classical mythology, the flower sprang up from the blood of Hyacinthus, a beautiful Spartan youth, who was accidentally killed during a game of quoits. It was thought by some that the letters AI , AI , the exclamation of woe, could be traced on the petals, while others discovered the letter Υ , the initial letter of Ὑάκινθος . The story of the slaying of Hyacinthus is told by Ovid.

" Lo, the blood

Which, on the ground outpoured, had stained the sod,

Is blood no more. Brighter than Tyrian dye,

Like to the lily's shape a flower appears,

Purple in hue as that is silvery white.

Nor yet does such memorial content

Phoebus Apollo at whose word it rose.

Upon its leaves he writes his own laments,

And on the flower forever stands inscribed

AI, AI"

" Metamorphoses ," x ., 175 sqq .

As a stone, it is identified by some with the sapphire. As to color, the hyacinth of the Greeks seems to have comprehended the iris, gladiolus, and larkspur. Hence the different accounts of its color in classical writings, varying from red to black. A dull, dark blue seems to be meant here.

Vincent: Rev 9:17 - Of brimstone

Of brimstone ( θειώδεις )

Perhaps light yellow , such a color as would be produced by the settling fumes of brimstone.

Vincent: Rev 9:17 - Of the horses

Of the horses

In the Bible the horse is always referred to in connection with war, except Isa 28:28, where it is mentioned as employed in threshing, the horses being turned loose in the grain as in the Italian triglia . The magnificent description in Job 39:19-25 applies to the war-horse . He is distinguished not so much for his speed and utility as for his strength (see Psa 33:17; Psa 147:10), and the word abbir strong is used as an equivalent for a horse (Jer 8:16; Jer 47:3). The Hebrews as a pastoral race, did not need the horse; and, for a long time after their settlement in Canaan, dispensed with it, partly because of the hilly nature of the country, which allowed the use of chariots only in certain places (Jdg 1:19), and partly because of the prohibition in Deu 17:16. Accordingly they hamstrung the horses of the Canaanites (Jos 11:6, Jos 11:9). The great supply of horses was effected by Solomon through his connection with Egypt. See 1Ki 4:26.

Vincent: Rev 9:17 - Proceedeth fire and smoke

Proceedeth fire and smoke

Compare Virgil.

" Then, if the sound of arms he hear from far,

Quiet he cannot stand, but pricks his ears,

Trembles in every limb, and snorting, rolls

The gathered fire beneath his nostrils wide"

" Georgics ," iii , 83-85 .

Also Job 39:20 : " the glory of his nostrils is terrible."

Vincent: Rev 9:18 - These three

These three

Add πληγῶν plagues , on which see on Mar 3:10; see on Luk 10:30.

Vincent: Rev 9:19 - Their power

Their power ( ἐξουσίαι αὐτῶν )

Read ἐξουσία τῶν ἵππων the power of the horses .

Vincent: Rev 9:19 - Like unto serpents

Like unto serpents

" Long, smooth, subtle, clasping their victim in an embrace from which he cannot escape" (Milligan). As one of the innumerable fantasies of Apocalyptic exposition may be cited that of Elliott (" Horae Apocalypticae" ) who finds a reference to the horse tails, the symbols of authority of the Turkish pashas.

Vincent: Rev 9:20 - Repented not of the works

Repented not of the works ( οὔτε μετενόησαν ἐκ τῶν ἔργων )

Lit., " out of the works ." The preposition ἐκ out of with repent , denotes a moral change involving an abandonment of evil works. See on Mat 3:2; see on Mat 21:29.

Vincent: Rev 9:20 - Works of their hands

Works of their hands

Not their course of life, but the idols which their hands had made. Compare Deu 4:28; Psa 135:15; Act 7:4.

Vincent: Rev 9:20 - Devils

Devils ( δαιμόνια )

More properly, demons . See on Mar 1:34. Compare 1Co 10:20; 1Ti 4:1.

Vincent: Rev 9:20 - See, hear, walk

See, hear, walk

Compare Dan 5:23.

Vincent: Rev 9:21 - Sorceries

Sorceries ( φαρμακειῶν )

Only here, Rev 18:23; and Gal 5:20, where φαρμακεία sorceries , A.V., witchcraft is enumerated among the " works of the flesh." Used in the Septuagint of the Egyptian sorceries (Exo 7:22. Of Babylon, Isa 47:9, Isa 47:12). From φάρμακον a drug , and thence a poison , an enchantment . Plato says: " There are two kinds of poisons used among men which cannot clearly be distinguished. There is one kind of poison which injures bodies by the use of other bodies according to a natural law... but there is another kind which injures by sorceries and incantations and magic bonds, as they are termed, and induces one class of men to injure another as far as they can, and persuades others that they, above all persons, are liable to be injured by the powers of the magicians. Now it is not easy to know the nature of all these things; nor if a man do know can he readily persuade others of his belief. And when men are disturbed at the sight of waxen images, fixed either at the doors, or in a place where three ways meet, or in the sepulchers of parents, there is no use of trying to persuade them that they should despise all such things, because they have no certain knowledge about them. But we must have a law in two parts concerning poisoning, in whichever of the two ways the attempt is made; and we must entreat and exhort and advise men not to have recourse to such practices, by which they scare the multitude out of their wits, as if they were children, compelling the legislator and the judge to heal the fears which the sorcerer arouses, and to tell them, in the first place, that he who attempts to poison or enchant others knows not what he is doing, either as regards the body (unless he have a knowledge of medicine) or as regards his enchantments, unless he happens to be a prophet or diviner" (" Laws," xi., 933).

JFB: Rev 9:17 - thus

As follows.

JFB: Rev 9:17 - of fire

The fiery color of the breastplates answering to the fire which issued out of their mouths.

JFB: Rev 9:17 - of jacinth

Literally, "of hyacinth color," the hyacinth of the ancients answering to our dark blue iris: thus, their dark, dull-colored breastplates correspond to the smoke out of their mouths.

JFB: Rev 9:17 - brimstone

Sulphur-colored: answering to the brimstone or sulphur out of their mouths.

JFB: Rev 9:18 - By these three

A, B, C, and Aleph read (apo for kupo), "From"; implying the direction whence the slaughter came; not direct instrumentality as "by" implies. A, B, C, Aleph also add "plagues" after "three." English Version reading, which omits it, is not well supported.

JFB: Rev 9:18 - by the fire

Greek, "owing to the fire," literally, "out of."

JFB: Rev 9:19 - their

A, B, C and Aleph read, "the power of the horses."

JFB: Rev 9:19 - in their mouth

Whence issued the fire, smoke, and brimstone (Rev 9:17). Many interpreters understand the horsemen to refer to the myriads of Turkish cavalry arrayed in scarlet, blue, and yellow (fire, hyacinth, and brimstone), the lion-headed horses denoting their invincible courage, and the fire and brimstone out of their mouths, the gunpowder and artillery introduced into Europe about this time, and employed by the Turks; the tails, like serpents, having a venomous sting, the false religion of Mohammed supplanting Christianity, or, as ELLIOTT thinks, the Turkish pachas' horse tails, worn as a symbol of authority. (!) All this is very doubtful. Considering the parallelism of this sixth trumpet to the sixth seal, the likelihood is that events are intended immediately preceding the Lord's coming. "The false prophet" (as Isa 9:15 proves), or second beast, having the horns of a lamb, but speaking as the dragon, who supports by lying miracles the final Antichrist, seems to me to be intended. Mohammed, doubtless, is a forerunner of him, but not the exhaustive fulfiller of the prophecy here: Satan will, probably, towards the end, bring out all the powers of hell for the last conflict (see on Rev 9:20, on "devils"; compare Rev 9:1-2, Rev 9:17-18).

JFB: Rev 9:19 - with them

With the serpent heads and their venomous fangs.

JFB: Rev 9:20 - the rest of the men

That is, the ungodly.

JFB: Rev 9:20 - yet

So A, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic. B and Aleph read, "did not even repent of," namely, so as to give up "the works," &c. Like Pharaoh hardening his heart against repentance notwithstanding the plagues.

JFB: Rev 9:20 - of their hands

(Deu 31:29). Especially the idols made by their hands. Compare Rev 13:14-15, "the image of the beast" Rev 19:20.

JFB: Rev 9:20 - that they should not

So B reads. But A, C, and Aleph read "that they shall not": implying a prophecy of certainty that it shall be so.

JFB: Rev 9:20 - devils

Greek, "demons" which lurk beneath the idols which idolaters worship.

JFB: Rev 9:21 - sorceries

Witchcrafts by means of drugs (so the Greek). One of the fruits of the unrenewed flesh: the sin of the heathen: about to be repeated by apostate Christians in the last days, Rev 22:15, "sorcerers." The heathen who shall have rejected the proffered Gospel and clung to their fleshly lusts, and apostate Christians who shall have relapsed into the same shall share the same terrible judgments. The worship of images was established in the East in A.D. 842.

JFB: Rev 9:21 - fornication

Singular: whereas the other sins are in the plural. Other sins are perpetrated at intervals: those lacking purity of heart indulge in one perpetual fornication [BENGEL].

Clarke: Rev 9:17 - Breastplates of fire - jacinth, and brimstone

Breastplates of fire - jacinth, and brimstone - That is, red, blue, and yellow; the first is the color of fire, the second of jacinth, and the third of sulphur

Clarke: Rev 9:17 - And the heads of the horses

And the heads of the horses - Is this an allegorical description of great ordnance? Cannons, on the mouths of which horses’ heads were formed, or the mouth of the cannon cast in that form? Fire, smoke, and brimstone, is a good allegorical representation of gunpowder. The Ottomans made great use of heavy artillery in their wars with the Greeks of the lower empire.

Clarke: Rev 9:18 - By these three was the third part of men killed

By these three was the third part of men killed - That is, By these was great carnage made.

Clarke: Rev 9:19 - Their power is in their mouth

Their power is in their mouth - From these the destructive balls are projected; and in their tails, the breech where the charge of gunpowder is lodged

Clarke: Rev 9:19 - Their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads

Their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads - If cannons are intended, the description, though allegorical, is plain enough; for brass ordnance especially are frequently thus ornamented, both at their muzzles and at their breech.

Clarke: Rev 9:20 - Yet repented not

Yet repented not - The commission which these horsemen had was against idolaters; and though multitudes of them were destroyed, yet the residue continued their senseless attachment to dumb idols, and therefore heavier judgments might be expected. These things are supposed to refer to the desolation brought upon the Greek Church by the Ottomans, who entirely ruined that Church and the Greek empire. The Church which was then remaining was the Latin or western Church, which was not at all corrected by the judgments which fell upon the eastern Church, but continued its senseless adoration of angels, saints, relics, etc., and does so to the present day. If, therefore, God’ s wrath be kindled against such, this Church has much to fear.

Clarke: Rev 9:21 - Neither repented they of their murders

Neither repented they of their murders - Their cruelties towards the genuine followers of God, the Albigenses, and Waldenses, and others, against whom they published crusades, and hunted them down, and butchered them in the most shocking manner. The innumerable murders by the horrible inquisition need not be mentioned

Clarke: Rev 9:21 - Their sorceries

Their sorceries - Those who apply this also to the Romish Church understand by it the various tricks, sleights of hand, or legerdemain, by which they impose on the common people in causing images of Christ to bleed, and the various pretended miracles wrought at the tombs, etc., of pretended saints, holy wells, and such like

Clarke: Rev 9:21 - Fornication

Fornication - Giving that honor to various creatures which is due only to the Creator

Clarke: Rev 9:21 - Their thefts

Their thefts - Their exactions and impositions on men for indulgences, pardons, etc. These things may be intended, but it is going too far to say that this is the true interpretation. And yet to express any doubt on this subject is with some little else than heresy. If such men can see these things so clearly in such obscure prophecies, let them be thankful for their sight, and indulgent to those who still sit in darkness.

Defender: Rev 9:20 - repented not

The army of terrible animals, half horse and half lion, with fire-breathing mouths and serpent tails (Rev 9:17), will eventually be slain, perhaps by the heavy artillery of modern armies. Men once more will smugly relax in their humanistic and pantheistic religions, confident in the invincibility of modern science and technology and willingly and knowingly elect to follow Satan instead of God.

Defender: Rev 9:20 - worship devils

The modern surge of New Age religions is merely a reversion to ancient pantheistic evolutionism, with all its trappings of occultism, spiritism, and polytheism. It will eventually become full-fledged demonism and finally Satan-worship (Rev 13:4). Images depicting the "gods" of nature will proliferate in the Western World just as they always have thrived in Asia and Africa, and Lucifer will be recognized as the supreme pinnacle of cosmic, evolutionary consciousness."

Defender: Rev 9:21 - murders

Violence will have spread ever since the rider on the red horse took peace from the earth (Rev 6:4). Murder and robbery will become ever more common as law and order erode.

Defender: Rev 9:21 - sorceries

The word for "sorceries" actually means "druggings" (Greek pharmakeia, from which we get the word "pharmaceutical"). Ancient sorcerers and oracles commonly used mind-altering drugs to induce their visions and healings. The use of hallucinatory drugs has become commonplace today and will become almost universal in this future time, contributing significantly to the rapid spread of murder, fornication and theft.

Defender: Rev 9:21 - fornication

The Greek for "fornication" (porneia) actually covers all types of sexual sins, every type of sexual conduct outside the bonds of permanent, monogamous marriage. The modern explosion of adultery, divorce, promiscuity, homosexuality, lesbianism, incest, rape, and every imaginable perversion of God's purpose in human sexuality, will become essentially universal in these terrible days to come."

TSK: Rev 9:17 - having // jacinth // brimstone // as the

having : This appears to point out the scarlet, blue and yellow colours, for which the Turks have always been remarkable. The ""four angels bound in the Euphrates""denote their four sultanies bordering on that river, where they were confined till after the period of the Crusades. The time for which they were prepared, ""an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year,""computing a year for each day, amounts to 391 years, 15 days; and from their first conquest over the Christians, ad 1281, to the taking of Cameniec from the Poles, ad 1672, which was the last conquest by which their dominion was extended, is exactly that period. Rev 9:9

jacinth : Rev 21:20

brimstone : Rev 9:18, Rev 14:10, Rev 19:20, Rev 21:8; Gen 19:24; Psa 11:6; Isa 30:33; Eze 33:22

as the : 1Ch 12:8; Isa 5:28, Isa 5:29

TSK: Rev 9:18 - the third

the third : Rev 9:15, Rev 9:17

TSK: Rev 9:19 - in their tails

in their tails : Rev 9:10; Isa 9:15; Eph 4:14

TSK: Rev 9:20 - And the // yet // worship // and idols

And the : That is, those of the Latin and Greek churches, who escaped destruction, still persisted in their idolatrous worship of demons, etc.

yet : Rev 9:21, Rev 2:21, Rev 2:22, Rev 16:8; Deu 31:29; 2Ch 28:22; Jer 5:3, Jer 8:4-6; Mat 21:32; 2Co 12:21

worship : Lev 17:7; Deu 32:17; 2Ki 22:17; 2Ch 34:25; Psa 106:37; Isa 2:8; Jer 25:6, Jer 44:8; Act 7:41, Act 19:26; 1Co 10:20,1Co 10:21; 1Ti 4:1

and idols : Psa 115:4-8, Psa 135:15-18; Isa 40:19, Isa 40:20, Isa 41:7, Isa 42:17, Isa 42:18, Isa 44:9-20, Isa 46:5-7; Jer 10:3-5, Jer 10:8, Jer 10:9, Jer 10:14, Jer 10:15, Jer 15:19, Jer 15:20, Jer 51:17; Dan 5:23; Hab 2:18-20; Act 17:29; Rom 1:21-23

TSK: Rev 9:21 - their murders // their sorceries // nor of their fornication

their murders : Rev 11:7-9, Rev 13:7, Rev 13:15, Rev 16:6, Rev 18:24; Dan 7:21-25, Dan 11:33

their sorceries : Rev 13:13, Rev 18:23, Rev 21:8, Rev 22:15; Isa 47:9, Isa 47:12, Isa 57:3; Mal 3:5

nor of their fornication : Rev 14:8, Rev 17:2, Rev 17:5, Rev 18:3, Rev 19:2; Mat 15:19; 2Co 12:21

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rev 9:17

We have no such description or representation as this in any other place of holy writ. Some understand it of the several coloured breastplates that the soldiers wore; some of a red and flaming colour, like fire; others blue, like the jacinth; some pale: all such as wear them look terribly. Mr. Mede hath here again a peculiar notion; thinking that the Holy Ghost doth here signify their fighting with great guns, (not known before the siege of Constantinople), which throw out fire and smoke, &c., and so alter the air, the medium by which we see, that the opposite party in fighting appear to those that use these arms, as if they were covered with breastplates that were red, and blue, and pale. To confirm this, he tells us of Chalcondylas’ s report of this siege, who mentioneth great guns used at it of that vast bigness, that one of them required threescore and ten yoke of oxen and two thousand men to draw it, &c. It is at least a very ingenious conjecture, and I could not but mention it in honour to the learned author; leaving it to my reader’ s liberty, whether he will, with Mr. Mede, judge this literal sense of the text is best, or interpret all these phrases more generally, only of a terrible appearance of those armies.

Poole: Rev 9:18

That is, a great part of men were killed by these numerous armies. No such devastations were ever made by any enemies that ever appeared in the world, as by the Turks have been; nor ever were there such vast great guns made, out of which came

fire, and smoke, and brimstone

Poole: Rev 9:19

By their tails some understand their infantry or foot soldiery; others, their serpentine craft and subtlety: as the locusts, Rev 9:10 , are compared to scorpions, whose sting was in their tails, and who were said to hurt with their tails; so the same thing is said of these armies, intimating that the Turks should be mischievous by the same arts and means as their predecessors the Saracens. These are said to have had heads in their tails, which was not said of the locusts; the reason of which interpreters judge to have arisen from the different animals by which they are represented.

Poole: Rev 9:20 - And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues // Yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils // devils // gold, silver, brass

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues the two-thirds of men that should be left, for we read of one-third part destroyed; and this also must be understood of men dwelling in countries subject formerly to the Roman empire on this side of the Euphrates.

Yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils: this leaves this applicable to none but papists; for there are none else but them who worship demons, Greek, daimonia , or idols of gold and silver. By

devils are meant demons, that is, persons that are dead, whom the heathens made their petty gods, and worshipped as middle beings between them and the supreme gods, according to their notion; which is the same thing the papists are guilty of, with this only difference, (as Mr. Mede excellently observeth), that the heathens made many supreme gods, and these modern idolaters own but one in that notion, but as many deastri or demons as they did, which are all those saints to whom they pay an adoration, as to those who should present their desires to God, which, as Mr. Mede sufficiently proves from writers, was the very work the pagans allotted for those whom they canonized after death. From whence came the names of Baal and Bel, &c., but from Belus, who is said to have been the first prince, whom, being dead, they made a god, and adored? Which demons God in Scripture calleth devils. Nor do any but they now worship images, the works of men’ s hands, made of

gold, silver, brass and wood who are here described in the same words as by the psalmist, Psa 115:4 135:15 . Notwithstanding God’ s great judgment executed upon the Grecian churches, yet they repented not of their idolatry and superstition; so as God hath brought them wholly under the power of those barbarous enemies; and though the Romish party seeth this, yet neither do they repent; which may give them cause to fear that God should make use of the same adversary to destroy them likewise; especially considering that neither to this day do they repent.

Poole: Rev 9:21 - Neither repented they of their murders // nor of their fornication // nor of their theft

Neither repented they of their murders of their murdering the saints of God, but go on in that practice;

nor of their fornication which is publicly allowed amongst them;

nor of their theft and sacrilege, and other wickedness, but are as infamous for their debaucheries as for their superstition and idolatry. How long this great judgment of the Turk shall continue upon Christians we cannot tell; it is Mr. Brightman’ s opinion that it shall determine in the year 1696; but of that the Scripture hath not informed us, and guessing is a vanity, where we have no sure foundation; and so many have appeared to have been mistaken in such particular determinations, that he lightly exposeth his reputation that will adventure further upon such rocks.

PBC: Rev 9:17

The figurative expressions used are again simply to show the fierceness and determination of this great army. Quoting from Barclay’s, The Revelation of John, " They seem to be armoured in flame, for their breastplates are fiery red like the glow of a blazing furnace, smoky blue like the smoke rising from a fire, and sulphurous yellow like the brimstone from the pit of hell."— Eld. Charles Taylor

PBC: Rev 9:18

(third part) [1]

The fire, smoke, and the brimstone took the lives of all who resisted the great surge of this terrible army which marched on Jerusalem.— Eld. Charles Taylor

[1] See Eze 5:12 A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

PBC: Rev 9:19

The work which was assigned this army was carried out in the most terrible way. There were famine, drouth, sickness, and killing.— Eld. Charles Taylor

PBC: Rev 9:20

Their interest was in the things of the temple. Yet temple worship was meaningless in the sense of true worship of God. Also, they desired to continue in their role of worshiping self rather than God. They had become entwined in the worship of idols made of material things. Gods which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk. The time of the fulness of their iniquity had arrived when God would no longer bear with them.— Eld. Charles Taylor

PBC: Rev 9:21

In spite of all of this malaise, those who still were left were not capable of repentance. God had absolutely removed all mercy and they were not able to see that only further destruction awaited them.— Eld. Charles Taylor

Haydock: Rev 9:17 - And thus I saw the horses in the vision

And thus I saw the horses in the vision. The horsemen appeared to St. John with breastplates of fire, and of hyacinth, and of brimstone. By this expression is indicated the firing of carabines, or such firearms as cavalry use, which are applied to the breast when shot off. St. John took the fire that issued out of the muskets to come from the horsemen's breast, on which the muskets rested, and so thought the horsemen had breastplates of fire. The prophet here even describes to us the composition of gunpowder, with its three ingredients, viz. brimstone or sulphur, fire or charcoal, and hyacinth or saltpetre; because saltpetre, when set on fire, emits a flame of fine purple colour, similar to the colour of the hyacinth stone. Here then we see revealed to St. John both the composition and use of gunpowder, to which he and all mankind at that time were strangers. Then it is said: And the heads of the horses, &c. Here is pointed out the artillery of the army, or cannon. He saw in this vision the whole army drawn up at a distance, and the artillery placed upon a line with the cavalry. He seemed to confound the cannon with the horses, and the cannons' mouths with the mouths of the horses, as the height of both from the ground is nearly the same. He describes the appearances as he saw in the vision, not the reality. When therefore he says, the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions, it is the same as if, the mouths of the cannon were as to the noise they made, like the mouths of roaring lions. Hence it appears that St. John, in this vision, both saw the fire of the cannon, and heard the explosion.

Haydock: Rev 9:19 - For the power of the horses

For the power of the horses. The power of the imagined horses or real cannon, lying in their mouths and in their tails, signifies that the mischievous power of the cannon is directed to the object by their mouths, but takes its birth in the tail or breech of the cannon, where the charge is lodged: whence the cannon's breech is here compared to the serpent's head, which contains its venom. (Pastorini, hic.[here])

Haydock: Rev 9:20 - The rest of men, who were not slain by these plagues

The rest of men, who were not slain by these plagues, which before are metaphorically called fire, smoke, and brimstone, did not for all that do penance, nor repent of their idolatrous worship of devils, and of idols of gold, silver, &c. nor for their sorceries of magic, nor for their fornication, nor for their thefts. This again may be either understood of what shall happen hereafter, a little before the end of the world (see Cornelius a Lapide); or perhaps of the Roman heathen idolaters, who still persisted in their iniquitous practices. Dr. Hammond expounds it of the Gnostic heretics. But to apply it to popish Christians, is a groundless invention of the late pretended reformers, neither supported by any authority or reason; (though Dr. W. is pleased to join with them) whereas all Catholics (and as he calls them, papists) have constantly declared in their controversies, in all their catechisms, that they adore none but God alone. Of this more hereafter. (Witham)

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Gill: Rev 9:17 - And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them // having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth and brimstone // and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions // And out of their mouths issued fire, and smoke, and brimstone

And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them,.... In such numbers, and with horsemen on them, and in such order, and in appearance, as follows:

having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth and brimstone; which may be understood either literally of their external breastplates, which being of polished iron, according to the custom of these people, looked at a distance like sparkling fire, and seemed to be of the colour of hyacinth, or of a sky colour, and appeared as flaming sulphur; though some think that their breastplates were of different colours, some looked like fire, others like jacinth, and others like brimstone; or it may denote that they would be accoutred in scarlet, blue, and yellow, which are the colours the Turks have commonly wore; or this may be understood of their internal breastplates, and the disposition of their minds, having in their breasts nothing but wrath, fury, desolation, and destruction; a fire devoured before them, and behind them a flame burned:

and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions: gaping and roaring for their prey, or all bloody with it, and looked fierce, and savage, and terrible: this designs not so much the strength, boldness, and intrepidity of their horses, which are warlike creatures, and very undaunted in battle, as of the men that sat upon them, who were like David's heroes and warriors, 1Ch 12:8.

And out of their mouths issued fire, and smoke, and brimstone; which may be referred either to the horses, or to the horsemen, or both: some interpret this allegorically, and by "fire" understand either the tyranny of the Turks over their own people, or their fury against others, or their blasphemy against God, and Christ, and his people, being like so many railing Rabshakehs against the God of the Christians; and by "smoke" the false doctrine of Mahomet, which came out of the same bottomless pit the doctrine of the Romish antichrist did; and is fitly compared to smoke for its disagreeableness, darkness, levity, and duration; See Gill on Rev 9:2; and by "brimstone" the immorality and sad corruption of manners among the Turks, and what is allowed of, or winked at, as fornication, polygamy, sodomy, &c. but rather this is to be taken more literally, and represents the firing of guns on horseback in battle. Guns are a late invention, and the use of them was found out in the age this trumpet refers to; and were much made use of by the Turks in their wars, and particularly great guns or cannons; these were used by Amurath at the sieges of Belgrade, and of Constantinople ^m; and by Mahomet the Second at the taking of Constantinople, where a gun or cannon was used of that size, as to be drawn by seventy yoke of oxen, and two thousand men ⁿ. Gunpowder set on fire is fitly signified by fire, smoke, and brimstone, which is made of nitre, charcoal, and brimstone; and the firing of guns on horseback is most aptly described by these coming out of the mouths of horses and horsemen: nor could it well appear to John to be otherwise, who could never have seen a gun, and one fired off in his life; nor could he well represent to others what he saw in vision, than in this manner.

Gill: Rev 9:18 - And by these three was the third part of men killed // By the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths

And by these three was the third part of men killed,.... The Alexandrian copy, and some others, the Complutensian edition, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read, "by these three plagues": as the western Roman empire is in the preceding chapter frequently expressed by the third part of several things, see Rev 8:7; so here the eastern Roman empire by the third part of men; vast numbers of the inhabitants of which were destroyed by the Turks, through the use of guns, out of which issued fire, smoke, and brimstone; and Constantinople, the metropolis of it, was taken in this way, as before observed, with the taking of which the empire ceased.

By the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths; that is, by the firing of guns.

Gill: Rev 9:19 - For their power is in their mouth // and in their tails // for their tails were like unto serpents // and had heads // and with them they do hurt

For their power is in their mouth,.... In what proceeded out of their mouth, or seethed to do so; in their guns, and what came out of them:

and in their tails; which may design their foot soldiers, which were as the tail to their horse, and who sometimes did great service; or their way of fighting when they fled, by casting up arrows into the air, which would fall upon the heads and horses of those that pursued them; or their ambushments, by which they destroyed many; or their perfidious violation of treaties; or it may be their tails may intend the doctrine of Mahomet, the false prophet, who is the tail, Isa 9:15,

for their tails were like unto serpents; crooked, crafty, poisonous, and, pernicious:

and had heads; every tail had a head to it; which may be understood of the officers of the foot soldiers, or of the priests and teachers of the Mahometan religion:

and with them they do hurt; with their guns, the power in their mouth, they did hurt to the bodies of men; and with their false doctrines, their tails, they did hurt to the souls of men; the Ethiopic version here adds, "five months"; which seems to be taken from Rev 9:10.

Gill: Rev 9:20 - And the rest of men which were not killed by these plagues // yet repented not of the works of their hands // that they should not worship devils // and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood // which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk

And the rest of men which were not killed by these plagues,.... By whom are meant the western antichristian party; and such of them as were not plagued, harassed, and destroyed by the Turks, as in Germany, at least some parts of it, France, Spain, Italy, &c.

yet repented not of the works of their hands: their idols, their images of saints departed, which their hands had made; the goodness of God in saving them from the depredations of the Turks, should have led them to repentance for their idolatrous worship of images, but it did not:

that they should not worship devils; or demons, a sort of deities with the Heathens, that mediated between the superior gods and men; and here design angels and saints departed, which the Papists worship, and use as mediators of intercession for them; and this is no other than worshipping of devils, in God's account, and is downright idolatry, and the doctrine of it is the doctrine of devils:

and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood; which are the several materials of which the Popish images are made: and what aggravates the stupidity of the worshippers of these images, and of the persons represented by them, is, that these are such

which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk; can neither see their persons, nor hear their prayers, nor stir one foot to their help and assistance; see Psa 115:4.

Gill: Rev 9:21 - Neither repented they of their murders // nor of their sorceries // nor of their fornication // nor of their thefts

Neither repented they of their murders,.... Of the saints and martyrs of Jesus, with whose blood the western antichrist is made drunk, and which will be found in her, and for which she is answerable. Now, though the western parts of the empire escaped the scourge of the Turks, yet this did not bring them to repent of their murderous practices, but they went on to take away the lives of godly men; witness the persecutions of the Waldenses and Albigenses, the murders of John Huss and Jerom of Prague, the burning of the martyrs here in Queen Mary's days, and the massacres in Paris and in Ireland, and their butcheries elsewhere; and which they have continued unto this day, where the Inquisition obtains:

nor of their sorceries; Jezebel the whore of Rome has been famous for, by which she has deceived all nations; many of the popes of Rome have been necromancers, given to the magic art, and have entered into covenant, and have had familiarity with the devil; and one part of the Romish service lies in exorcisms, conjurations, and enchantments, and which they still continue:

nor of their fornication; all sorts of uncleanness; not only simple fornication, but adultery, incest, sodomy, and all unnatural lusts; brothel houses have been set up and licensed by authority, which have yielded to the popes a yearly revenue of forty thousand ducats; the Romish clergy, popes, cardinals, priests, monks, and friars, have been dreadfully guilty of all manner of uncleanness, and still are; whence Rome is called Sodom, Rev 11:8;

nor of their thefts; who under pretence of granting indulgences and pardons, and praying souls out of purgatory, with other tricks, cheat men of their money, pillage and plunder their estates, and devour widows' houses; rob men of their substance, and make merchandise of their souls: now all these iniquities the Papists in the eastern empire were guilty of, for which the Turks as a scourge were let in upon it, and destroyed it; and yet the western papacy, who did not suffer in these calamities, took no warning by them, did not repent of their sins, and reform their practices; but went on, and still go on in the same wicked way, and by their hardness and impenitence treasure up wrath against the day of wrath.