Rev 17:14, 19:16 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 14. These shall make war with the Lamb . The Lamb of God--the Lord Jesus, ( Barnes on "Re 5:6" ;) that is, they would combine with the Papacy in opposing evangelical religion. It is not meant that they would openly and avowedly proclaim war against the Son of God, but that they would practically do this in sustaining a persecuting power. It is unnecessary to show how true this has been in history; how entirely they sustained the Papacy in all its measures of persecution. And the Lamb shall overcome them . Shall ultimately gain the victory over them. The meaning is, that they would not be able to extinguish the true religion. In spite of all opposition and persecution, that would still live in the world, until it would be said that a complete triumph was gained. For he is Lord of lords, and King of kings . He has supreme power over all the earth, and all kings and princes are subject to his control. Compare . And they that are with him . The reference is to the persecuted saints who have adhered to him as his faithful followers in all these protracted conflicts. Are called . That is, called by him to be his followers; as if he had selected them out of the world to maintain his cause. . And chosen . . In their stedfast adherence to the truth, they had shown that they were truly chosen by the Saviour, and could be relied on in the warfare against the powers of evil. And faithful . They had shown themselves faithful to him in times of persecution, and in the hour of darkness. (b) "make war with the Lamb" (a) "shall overcome" (b) "Lord of Lords" (c) "they" (d) "called" (e) "chosen" (f) "faithful"

Revelation of John 17:14

Verse 14. These shall make war with the Lamb. The Lamb of God--the Lord Jesus, (Barnes on "Re 5:6";) that is, they would combine with the Papacy in opposing evangelical religion. It is not meant that they would openly and avowedly proclaim war against the Son of God, but that they would practically do this in sustaining a persecuting power. It is unnecessary to show how true this has been in history; how entirely they sustained the Papacy in all its measures of persecution.

And the Lamb shall overcome them. Shall ultimately gain the victory over them. The meaning is, that they would not be able to extinguish the true religion. In spite of all opposition and persecution, that would still live in the world, until it would be said that a complete triumph was gained.

For he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. He has supreme power over all the earth, and all kings and princes are subject to his control. Compare Rev 19:16.

And they that are with him. The reference is to the persecuted saints who have adhered to him as his faithful followers in all these protracted conflicts.

Are called. That is, called by him to be his followers; as if he had selected them out of the world to maintain his cause. Rom 1:7.

And chosen. Jn 15:16; 1Pet 1:2. In their stedfast adherence to the truth, they had shown that they were truly chosen by the Saviour, and could be relied on in the warfare against the powers of evil.

And faithful. They had shown themselves faithful to him in times of persecution, and in the hour of darkness.

(b) "make war with the Lamb" Rev 19:19 (a) "shall overcome" Jer 50:44 (b) "Lord of Lords" Rev 19:16, De 10:17, 1Timm 6:15 (c) "they" Mic 5:8,9 (d) "called" Rom 8:30,37 (e) "chosen" Jn 15:16 (f) "faithful" Rev 2:10

Revelation of John 19:16

Verse 16. And he hath on his vesture. That is, this name was conspicuously written on his garment--probably his military robe.

And on his thigh. The robe or military cloak may be conceived of as open and flowing, so as to expose the limbs of the rider; and the idea is, that the name was conspicuously written not only on the flowing robe, but on the other parts of his dress, so that it must be conspicuous whether his military cloak were wrapped closely around him, or whether it was open to the breeze. Grotius supposes that this name was on the edge or hilt of the sword which depended from his thigh.

A name written. Or a title descriptive of his character.

King of kings, and Lord of lords. As in Rev 17:5, so here, there is nothing in the original to denote that this should be distinguished as it is by capital letters. As a conspicuous title, however, it is not improper. It means that he is, in fact, the sovereign over the kings of the earth, and that all nobles and princes are under his control--a rank that properly belongs to the Son of God. Compare Barnes on "Eph 1:20-22". See also Rev 19:12 of this chapter. The custom here alluded to of inscribing the name or rank of distinguished individuals on their garments, so that they might be readily recognised, was not uncommon in ancient times. For full proof of this, see Rosenmuller, Morgenland, iii. 232-236. The authorities quoted there are, Thevenot's Travels, i. 149; Gruter, p. 989; Dempster's Etruria Regalis, T. ii. tab. 93; Montfaucon, Antiq. Expliq. T. iii. tab. 39. Thus Herodotus, (ii. 106,) speaking of the figures of Sesostris in Ionia, says that, "Across his breast, from shoulder to shoulder, there is this inscription in the sacred characters of Egypt, 'I conquered this country by the force of my arms.'" Comp. Cic. Verr. iv. 23; Le Moyne ad Jer. xxiii. 6; Munter, Diss. ad Apoc. xvii. 5, as referred to by Prof. Stuart, in loc.

(l) "KING OF KINGS" Rev 17:14