Isa 44:5, Rev 13:17, 14:1 | JFB | STEP | 5. The third clause answers in parallelism to the first, the fourth to the second. I am the Lord's — ( ). call himself by the name of Jacob —The Gentiles (as the result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Israel, the Lord's "seed," first) shall join themselves to the children of Jacob, in order to worship their God (compare ). Or, "calls," that is, invokes and celebrates the name of Jacob, attaches himself to his nation and religion [MAURER ], ( ). subscribe . . . hand unto . . . Lord —in solemn and public covenant, pledging himself to God's service (compare ), before "witnesses" ( ), after the manner of a civil contract ( ). So the Christian in the sacraments [BARNES ]. Literally, "shall fill his hand with letters ( ) in honor of Jehovah"; or "shall write upon his hand, I am Jehovah's" (compare ); alluding to the puncture with ink on the hand, whereby a soldier marked himself as bound to his commander; and whereby the Christians used to mark themselves with the name of Christ [LOWTH ]. The former view is simpler. surname himself . . . Israel —MAURER and GESENIUS interpret this as the Hebrew sanctions, answering to their rendering of the parallel second clause, " calls blandly (speaks in honorable terms of) the name of Israel." Retaining English Version, we must, from the Hebrew understand it thus, "Surname himself by the honorable name of Israel" ( ).

Isaiah 44:5

5. The third clause answers in parallelism to the first, the fourth to the second.

I am the Lord's— (Jer 50:5; 1Co 6:19, 20; 2Co 8:5).

call himself by the name of Jacob—The Gentiles (as the result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Israel, the Lord's "seed," first) shall join themselves to the children of Jacob, in order to worship their God (compare Isa 43:7; Ps 49:11). Or, "calls," that is, invokes and celebrates the name of Jacob, attaches himself to his nation and religion [MAURER], (Ps 24:6).

subscribe . . . hand unto . . . Lord—in solemn and public covenant, pledging himself to God's service (compare Ne 9:38), before "witnesses" (Heb 12:1), after the manner of a civil contract (Jer 32:10, 12, 44). So the Christian in the sacraments [BARNES]. Literally, "shall fill his hand with letters (Ex 32:15; Eze 2:10) in honor of Jehovah"; or "shall write upon his hand, I am Jehovah's" (compare Isa 49:16; Re 13:16); alluding to the puncture with ink on the hand, whereby a soldier marked himself as bound to his commander; and whereby the Christians used to mark themselves with the name of Christ [LOWTH]. The former view is simpler.

surname himself . . . Israel—MAURER and GESENIUS interpret this as the Hebrew sanctions, answering to their rendering of the parallel second clause, "calls blandly (speaks in honorable terms of) the name of Israel." Retaining English Version, we must, from the Hebrew understand it thus, "Surname himself by the honorable name of Israel" (Isa 45:4).

Revelation of John 13:17

17. And—So A, B, and Vulgate read. C, IRENÆUS, 316, Coptic, and Syriac omit it.

might buy—Greek, "may be able to buy."

the mark, or the name—Greek, "the mark (namely), the name of the beast." The mark may be, as in the case of the sealing of the saints in the forehead, not a visible mark, but symbolical of allegiance. So the sign of the cross in Popery. The Pope's interdict has often shut out the excommunicate from social and commercial intercourse. Under the final Antichrist this shall come to pass in its most violent form.

number of his name—implying that the name has some numerical meaning.

Revelation of John 14:1

1. a—A, B, C, Coptic, and ORIGEN read, "the."

Lamb . . . on . . . Sion—having left His position "in the midst of the throne," and now taking His stand on Sion.

his Father's name—A, B, and C read, "His name and His Father's name."

in—Greek, "upon." God's and Christ's name here answers to the seal "upon their foreheads" in Re 7:3. As the 144,000 of Israel are "the first-fruits" (Re 14:4), so "the harvest" (Re 14:15) is the general assembly of Gentile saints to be translated by Christ as His first act in assuming His kingdom, prior to His judgment (Re 16:17-21, the last seven vials) on the Antichristian world, in executing which His saints shall share. As Noah and Lot were taken seasonably out of the judgment, but exposed to the trial to the last moment [DE BURGH], so those who shall reign with Christ shall first suffer with Him, being delivered out of the judgments, but not out of the trials. The Jews are meant by "the saints of the Most High": against them Antichrist makes war, changing their times and laws; for true Israelites cannot join in the idolatry of the beast, any more than true Christians. The common affliction will draw closely together, in opposing the beast's worship, the Old Testament and New Testament people of God. Thus the way is paved for Israel's conversion. This last utter scattering of the holy people's power leads them, under the Spirit, to seek Messiah, and to cry at His approach, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord."