Revelation 9:19-10:11 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 9:13-21

Here let us consider the preface to this vision, and then the vision itself. I. The preface to this vision: A voice was heard from the horns of the golden altar, Rev. 9:13, 14. Here observe, 1. The power of the church's enemies is restrained till God gives the word to have them turned loose. 2. When nations are ripe for punishment, those instruments of God's anger that were before restrained are let loose upon them, Rev. 9:14. 3. The instruments that God makes use of to punish a people may... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 9:13-21

9:13-21 The sixth angel sounded a blast on his trumpet and I heard a voice from the four horns of the altar saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet: "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." So there came the four angels who were prepared for that hour and day and month and year, to kill a third part of the human race. The number of the armed forces of cavalry was twenty thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number, and this was how I saw in appearance... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 9:19

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 9:19

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. 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. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 9:12-21

The inefficiency of judgments to lead all to repentance. The voice of suffering innocence does not pass unheeded. The Lord of sabaoth is long-suffering and very merciful, even towards the disobedient and towards the enemies of the truth; but the angels of judgment and punishment, bound and restrained, must at length be loosed. Though the Lord suffereth long and is kind, yet he will avenge his own elect which cry to him day and night. We learn— I. THAT THE END OF JUDGMENT IS ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 9:19

For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails; for the power ,f the horses is, etc. Another example of disagreement between Erasmus and all the Greek manuscripts (see on Revelation 9:10 ). For their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. "Are like," and "have heads," in the present tense. Here (unlike Revelation 9:10 ) the tails are like serpents themselves. The image is not uncommon among the ancients. We may paraphrase the passage thus:... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 9:19

For their power is in their mouth - That is, as described in the fire, smoke, and brimstone that proceeded out of their mouths. What struck the seer as remarkable on looking on the symbol was, that this immense destruction seemed to proceed out of their mouths. It was not that they trampled down their enemies; nor that they destroyed them with the sword, the bow, or the spear: it was some new and remarkable power in warfare - in which the destruction seemed to proceed from fire, and smoke, and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 9:16-19

Revelation 9:16-19. The number of the army of horsemen were two hundred thousand A description is here given of the forces, and of the means and instruments by which the Othmans should effect the ruin of the eastern empire. The armies are described as very numerous, myriads of myriads. When Mohammed the Second besieged Constantinople, he had about four hundred thousand men in his army, besides a powerful fleet of thirty larger and two hundred lesser ships. They are described, too, chiefly... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 9:1-21

Fifth and sixth trumpets (9:1-21)Worse than the destruction by the forces of nature is the suffering brought by the forces of demons (fifth trumpet). These demonic forces are pictured in a strange and terrifying army of locusts. Though uncontrollable by any human power, they are not independent of the rule of God. He keeps them imprisoned in the abyss (RSV: bottomless pit), and even when he releases them he determines the extent of their activity (9:1-3).The demons do not harm plant life (as... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 9:19

their power. The texts read "the power of the horses". serpents. Greek. ophis, as in Revelation 12:9 , Revelation 12:14 , Revelation 12:15 ; Revelation 20:2 . See Jeremiah 8:17 . read more