Friday 26 July 2013

The Structure of Revelation 19:11-16 - Part 5 (odds and ends)

A few odds and ends now before leaving this study of the structure of these verses.

Firstly, notice the rather simplistic thematic tie between verse 11 and verse 14: "war" vs. "armies".
Secondly, notice the perhaps more thought provoking occurrence of the word "righteousness" in verse 11 and the phrase "clothed in fine linen, white and clean" in verse 14. In verses 7 and, in particular, 8 we read,

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Not only does verse 8 once again establish the parallel structure of these verses, verses 11-16, but it also carries with it the possible implication that the members of Christ's army were once fallen beings, that their righteousness is something they have put on like clothing. This idea will be discussed further in a latter post.

So the final structure of Revelation 19:11-16 is,

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean [vs. 8].
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness [vs. 8] he doth judge and make war.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword [op. desc., Perg.], that with it he should smite the nations:
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire [op. desc., Thy.], and on his head were many crowns;
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron [clos. prom., Thy.]:
and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself [clos. prom., Perg].
and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God [Isaiah 63:1-6].
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood [Isaiah 63:1-6]:
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
and his name is called The Word of God.

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