CHAPTER X

1. A cloud. The expression occurs seven times in Revelation, and in all of them is connected with the Son of Man.

Rainbow. See on ch. iv. 3.

Pillars of fire. Compare ch. i. 15.

2. In his hand (en). The roll of Ch. 5 was on the hand (ejpi, see ch. v. 1), being too large to be grasped within it. The roll was on the right hand; the little book is in the left. See on ver. 5.

3. Cried (ekraxen). See on Mark v. 5.

As when. The when of A.V. is unnecessary.

Roareth (mukatai). Only here in the New Testament. Peter uses wjruomai for the voice of the lion. See on 1 Pet. v. 8. The verb here is originally applied to the lowing of cattle, expressing the sound, moo-ka-omai. Both Aristophanes and Theocritus use it of the roar of the lion, and the former of thunder. Homer, of the ring of the shield and the hissing of meat on the spit.

Seven thunders. The Jews were accustomed to speak of thunder as "the seven voices." Compare the sevenfold "voice of the Lord," Psalm 29. As usual, interpretation has run wild as to the seven thunders. As a few illustrations may be cited: Vitringa, the seven crusades; Daubuz, the seven kingdoms which received the Reformation; Elliott, the bull fulminated against Luther from the seven-hilled city, etc.

4. To write. According to the injunction in ch. i. 11.

5. His hand. Add thn dexian the right, and see on ver. 2. On lifting the hand in swearing, see Gen. xiv. 22; Exod. vi. 8 (margin); Deuteronomy xxxii. 40.

6. Swear by (wmosen en). Lit., "swear in," a Hebrew idiom.

Should be time no longer (cronov ouk estai epi). Rev., correctly, shall be, etc. The meaning is not, as popularly understood, that time shall cease to exist, but that there shall be no more delay (so Rev., in margin) before the fulfillment of the divine purposes respecting the Church on earth. Possibly with allusion to the cry how long (ch. vi. 10).

7. Shall begin to sound (mellh salpizen). Wrong. Rev., correctly, when he is about to sound.

The mystery (to musthrion). See on Matt. xiii. 11.

Declared (euhggelisen). The word used of declaring the good news of salvation. Here of declaring the mystery of the kingdom.

8. Spake unto me. Render, as Rev., "I heard it again speaking."

9. I went (aphlqon). The preposition ajpo has the force of away. I went away from the place where I was standing.