Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them - "Who can make any computation," says Bishop Newton, "or even frame any conception, of the numbers of pious Christians who have fallen a sacrifice to the bigotry and cruelty of Rome? Mede upon the place hath observed, from good authorities, that in the war with the Albigenses and Waldenses there perished of these poor creatures in France alone a million. From the first institution of the Jesuits to the year 1580, that is, in little more than thirty years, nine hundred thousand orthodox Christians were slain, and these all by the common executioner. In the space of scarce thirty years the inquisition destroyed, by various kinds of torture, a hundred and fifty thousand Christians. Sanders himself confesses that an innumerable multitude of Lollards and Sacramentarians were burnt throughout all Europe, who yet, he says, were not put to death by the pope and bishops, but by the civil magistrates." The dragon in a new shape, or Roman empire of Germany, acted a very conspicuous part in this nefarious warfare against the remnant of the woman's seed, who kept the commandments of God, and had the testimony of Jesus Christ. See the imperial edict of Frederic II. against heretics, in Limborch's History of the Inquisition.

And power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations - As the book of the Revelation is a prophecy of all that should come upon the Christian world till the end of time, all kindreds, and tongues, and nations, must imply the whole Christian world. That the Latin empire in the course of its reign has had the extensive power here spoken of, is evident from history. It is well known that the profession of Christianity was chiefly confined within the limits of the Greek and Latin empires, till the period of the Reformation. By means of the crusades the Latins extended their empire over several provinces of the Greeks. In 1097 Baldwin extended his conquests over the hills of Armenia and the plain of Mesopotamia, and founded the first principality of the Franks or Latins, which subsisted fifty-four years, beyond the Euphrates. In 1204 the Greeks were expelled from Constantinople by the Latins, who set up an empire there which continued about fifty-seven years. The total overthrow of the Latin states in the east soon followed the recovery of Constantinople by the Greeks; and in 1291 the Latin empire in the east was entirely dissolved. Thus the Latins have had power over the whole world professedly Christian: but it is not said that the whole world was in utter subjection to him, for we read in the following verse: -

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

And it was given unto him - By the same power that taught him to blaspheme God and his church. See the notes on Revelation 13:2, Revelation 13:5.

To make war with the saints - See this fully illustrated in the notes on the parallel passage in Daniel 7:21, and at the end of that chapter, (f).

And to overcome them - In those wars. This was abundantly fulfilled in the wars with the Waldenses, the Albigenses, and the other sincere followers of the Saviour in the time of the papal persecutions. The language used here is the same as what is found in Daniel 7:21; “The same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them.” See the notes on that passage.

And power was given him - See the notes on Revelation 13:2.

Over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations - For the meaning of these words see the notes on Revelation 7:9. The meaning here is, that this dominion was set up over the world. Compare Daniel 7:25. The fact that so large a portion of the kingdoms of the earth was under the influence of the papacy, and sustained it, and the claim which it set up to universal dominion, and to the right of deposing kings and giving away kingdoms, corresponds entirely with the language used here.

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.

And there was given to him ... The importance of this is seen in its repetition, this or a similar clause being used twice in this verse, once in Revelation 13:5, and in Revelation 13:14 and Revelation 13:15. The truth behind this is that God is still the sovereign in his universe. People, in the stubborn and willful pursuit of their own selfish desires, and in following their own free will to do whatever comes into their minds, provide the tools from which the work of Satan prospers; and God "gives" to Satan and to the beast the right of exploiting whatever opportunities may be afforded them through the disobedience and wickedness of people. Neither Satan nor his beast, nor any other creature, can harm the one who loves God (Romans 8:31-39).

Authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation ... Some authors view this as merely an indication of the worldwide extent of the Roman empire; but much more than that is said here. "The fourfold enumeration, applied to the earth, denotes the universal character of the description."[55] This means that there is no place on earth where sin does not dwell, no place where the authority of the beast is totally absent. Despite this, people are not predestined to be delivered into his hands; that can happen only when people choose to follow Satan rather than Christ.

ENDNOTE:

[55] A. Plummer, op. cit., p. 333.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints,.... The remnant of the woman's seed, Revelation 12:17, whom God has set apart for himself, Christ has cleansed from sin by his blood, and the Holy Spirit has sanctified by his grace; and who under the influence of it live holy lives and conversations; against such Satan always bore an enmity; and it is an aggravation of the wickedness of the Romish antichrist, that he makes war with such, which he is stirred up to by Satan, with a malicious intent, and is permitted by God for the trial of the faith and patience of his people: this war of antichrist, with the saints, may be understood not merely spiritually, of his anathemas, excommunications, bulls, and the like, but literally, of his drawing the temporal sword against them; see Revelation 13:10; and bringing of armies against them, and fighting pitched battles; and it is thought there may be a special regard had to his war with the Waldenses and Albigenses, in which war it is said that a million were slain; and may take in all his ways and methods of destroying the saints, by the bloody Inquisition, murders, massacres, and punishments of all sorts; and also his last war with the two witnesses, in which they will be slain, which is yet to come, Revelation 11:7;

and to overcome them: not so as to submit to him, and to forsake the doctrines and ordinances of Christ, but by killing them; and who, by dying in the faith and cause of Christ, overcome Satan, get the victory over the world, and antichrist, and are more than conquerors through him that has loved them.

And power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations; in the Roman empire, which wondered after him, and worshipped him, and over whom he has reigned, and has exercised both a temporal and spiritual jurisdiction; see Revelation 17:15.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

power — Greek, “authority.”

all kindreds … tongues … nations — Greek, “every tribe … tongue … nation.” A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, Andreas, and Primasius add “and people,” after “tribe” or “kindred.”

Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament

To make war with the saints and to overcome them (ποιησαι πολεμον μετα των αγιων και νικησαι αυτους — poiēsai polemon meta tōn hagiōn kai nikēsai autous). This clause with two epexegetical first aorist active infinitives (πολεμησαι — polemēsai and νικησαι — nikēsai) is omitted in A C P, but probably by ομοεοτελευτον — homoeoteleuton (like ending) because of the repetition of εδοτη — edothē The words seem to come from Daniel 7:21, Daniel 7:23. There was no escape from the beast‘s rule in the Mediterranean world. See Revelation 5:9 for the phrases here used, there for praise to the Lamb.

Vincent's Word Studies

The saints ( τῶν ἁγίων )

See on Acts 26:10.

All kindreds ( πᾶσαν φυλὴν )

Rev., more literally and correctly, every tribe. See on Revelation 1:7; see on Revelation 5:9. After tribe insert καὶ λαὸν andpeople. See on 1 Peter 2:9.

Nation ( ἔθνος )

See on 1 Peter 2:9.

Abbott's Illustrated New Testament

And it was given unto him; he was permitted. The beast described in Revelation 13:1-7, has been considered by some commentators as a personification of enmity to the cause of Christ in general; and by others as representing particularly the power of pagan Rome.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Ver. 7. To make war with the saints] As he did with the Albigenses, publishing his Crusades against them, as if they had been Saracens, and destroying ten hundred thousand of them in France only, if Perionias may be believed. Not to speak of the many thousands since slain in battle by the pope’s champions in Germany, France, Ireland, and now also in England; besides those many more that have died for religion by the bloody Inquisition, by the hands of the hangman, 3600 in the Low Countries by the command of the Duke of Alva, 800 here in Queen Mary’s days, &c. The beast hath even made himself drunk with the blood of the saints.

And to overcome them] So it seemed, but so it was not. See Revelation 12:11. The saints never more prevail and triumph than when it seems otherwise. Of them the enemies may say, as the Persians did once of the Athenians at the field of Marathon (Stobaeus),

βαλλομεν, ου πιπτουσι, τιτρωσκομεν, ου φοβεονται.

We fell them, yet they fall not; thrust them through,

They feel no mischief, but are well enough.

Over all kindreds and tongues] Here the Holy Ghost points to the Popish Catholicism. The Jesuits will still needsly have the Roman Church to be the Catholic Church, though so many kindreds, tongues, and nations have utterly disclaimed it. Herein they are like that mad fellow Thrasilaus in Horace, who laid claim to all the ships that came into the harbour at Athens, though he had no right to the least boat there.

Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament

Observe here, 1. A war proclaimed; the beast makes war upon the saints, by bloodshed and persecution, and by the force of those weapons overcomes them; that is, to outward appearance, and in the opinion of the world, they seem to be totally overcome, because visibly slain: but really do the saints overcome him, by their patience and constancy under sufferings; and by rejecting his cursed idolatry, and adhering to the truth.

Observe, 2. The large extent of the beast's power that was given him, namely, over all kindreds, tongues, and nations. This must not be understood of individual persons, nor universally of all nations, but of the nations belonging to the Roman empire: whole nations were carried away with his idolatry, though not all of every nation. Christ's flock is a little flock, compared with antichrist's herd: how wrong a note then is multitude of the right church!

Observe, 3. That as the power of the beast is universal, so is the worship also: All that dwell on the earth shall worship him, that is, the generality of the Roman empire shall obey and honour him, and comply with him in his idolatry; few comparatively refusing it.

Yet, 4. We have a number excepted, whose names are written in the book of life. Blessed by God for this comfortable restriction: all are not worshippers of the beast. Christ has his number of faithful ones, who are not defiled by antichrist's pollutions; a number whose conversations are in heaven, and whose names are written there, in the book of life, called the book of the Lamb; because it is by him, and by the merit of his blood, that we obtain eternal life.

Observe lastly, The title here given to our Lord Jesus Christ, he is styled the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and that in several respects:

1. In the purpose and decree of God.

2. In the promise of God made from the beginning, Genesis 3:15.

3. In respect of the types, shadows, and sacrifices, whereby his death was prefigured and represented; Christ was slain typically in those sacrifices which Adam and Abel offered up unto God daily.

4. In respect of the virtue and efficacy of his death, which was effectual to all that truly believe in him, from the first promise made of him. The merits of Christ's death have saved all that have been saved from the foundation of the world.

Behold here, The tender care of God in providing for our salvation before we were, yea, before the world was; and observe also, that the saints of God, in all ages, have been saved the same way, and by the same mean, namely, by faith in the death of Christ, which has extended itself to all true believers from the beginning of the world; and the efficacy of it will reach to all such, even to the end of the world; the virtue of the sacrifice is as fresh as the first moment it was slain, the death of Christ is of eternal efficacy.

Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament

Revelation 13:7. πόλεμον ποιῆσαι μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων, to make war with the saints) Daniel 7:21, עבדא קרב עם קדושין, LXX., ἐποίει πόλεμον μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων. Thus πόλεμον ποιεῖν, Revelation 12:17; Revelation 19:19, and the LXX. often for עשה מלחמה. I. C. Becman, in his Dissertation respecting the justice of the arms of Cevennes, p. 33, rightly refers this war with the saints to the Crusades against the Waldenses.— πᾶσαν, every) The law of the Roman Pontiffs prevailed over a greater portion of the earth, than that of the Emperors: Greg. vii. lib. 2, Ep. 75.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

God showeth John, that after antichrist had gone on blaspheming the name, and tabernacle, and saints of God, some years, the devil should influence him also

to make war against God’s holy ones, and he would suffer him

to overcome them; and he should have a

power over all the nations of that part of the world, where God had his church. This was eminently fulfilled after the year 1200, when the doctrine of transubstantiation was established. The Inquisition was set up in Spain, 1206; the number of those murdered by it was exceeding great. But yet this was too slow a work, the pope quickly raised vast armies against the Albigenses, first under the conduct of his legate, then of Simon de Montford. Perionius (one of their own) saith, that more than a million were slain in these wars of these poor people, merely for not complying with the Church of Rome in her apostacy. But what were these to those slain in the valleys of Piedmont, Provence, Calabria, Alsatia, Bohemia, before the year 1517, when the Reformation began in Germany? What slaughters have been since made in Germany, Hungary, Flanders, Ireland, &c., every one knows. The latter clause was eminently verified until the year 1517, there being no nation in Europe but was subject to the pope of Rome, so as he had a

power over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. The poor Albigenses thought themselves concerned in this prophecy; for when the popish general, Simon de Montford, had made a vast slaughter of them, and the archbishop of Tholouse interceded for those that survived, upon condition that they would embrace the Romish faith, they boldly refused, sending the archbishop word, that they were the overcome servants of Jesus Christ; and all died comforting themselves with the prophecy of this text.

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture

вести войну со святыми Антихристу будет позволено уничтожать всех Божьих детей (ср. 6:9-11; 10:17; 11:7; 17:14; Дан. 7:23-25; 8:25; 9:27; 11:38; 12:10; Мф. 24:16-22). См. пояснение к 17:6.

Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament

All kindreds-tongues, and nations; showing the extent of his influence, reaching over a great portion of the world.

Foy E. Wallace's Commentary on the Book of Revelation

4. It was given unto him to make war against the saints--13:7. That power was given the devil to execute the mission; indicating again the identity of the dragon and the beast in the persecution of the church-the dragon being personified in the emperor. He was thus represented as giving power to the beast-emperor as his instrument for the persecution of the church, to overcome them by the siege and destruction of Jerusalem the sacred city and holy temple.

The sweep of this diabolical power to exterminate extended beyond Jerusalem and Judea to all kindred, and tongues, and nations, and, after the destruction of Jerusalem the persecution spread over the whole empire.

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable

He will wage war against believers and overcome them (i.e, kill them, Revelation 13:15) and will become a worldwide dictator ( Daniel 7:21; Daniel 7:23). No other ruler has ever been able to rule the entire world.

"Incidentally this shows that something more than the Neronic persecution is in mind, for that was not world-wide." [Note: Morris, p169. See Mark L. Hitchcock, "A Critique of the Preterist View of Revelation 13and Nero," Bibliotheca Sacra164:655 (July-September2007):341-56.]

"This verse furnishes a most important key to the proper understanding of events occurring during the tribulation period. Since authority is given to him [the beast] over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations upon his ascent from the sea, any passage pertaining to rivalry of kings or conflict among kings in the "time of the end" (such as Daniel 7:8; Daniel 7:24; Daniel 11:40-44) must refer to a time preceding this universal dictatorship and therefore to the first half of the tribulation." [Note: Smith, A Revelation . . ., p199.]

Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament

Revelation 13:7. The third thing is ‘given;’ and the authority is universal, the whole world being marked out by the four departments into which it is divided.

Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books

This power may have come from Satan, but only as God allowed. (Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-6; Romans 13:1, John 19:10-11) Remembering the promises of earlier chapters (Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:10-11; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 2:29; Revelation 3:6; Revelation 3:13; Revelation 3:22), we realize this overcoming was short lived and has only to do with this life. (Revelation 11:7; Revelation 11:12; compare Matthew 10:28) Satan and his forces will have control of people all over the world. (Revelation 5:9; Revelation 7:9; Revelation 11:9)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

make war. Not the term in Revelation 13:4 (polemeo), but indicating a special attack upon "the saints". See Revelation 11:7. Daniel 7:21; Daniel 8:12, Daniel 8:24; Daniel 11:31.

saints. See Revelation 5:8 with Revelation 11:18.

over. App-104.

all kindreds = every tribe. The texts add "and people".

tongues, nations. Sing, number.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. Power - `authority.'

All kindreds, and tongues, and nations - `every tribe ... tongue ... nation.' A B C 'Aleph ('), Vulgate, Syriac, Andreas, Primasius, add, 'and people,' after 'tribe.'

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) And it was given . . .—Better, He makes war with the saints, and conquers them. This, too, is said to be “given him.” The conquest is not a conquest of their fidelity; it is rather that the beast so far succeeds that they must suffer or submit. The saints seem to be single handed; for there was given him authority over every tribe, and people, and tongues, and nations. Nor does his success end here; the next verse shows us how completely earth is at his feet.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

to make

11:7; 12:17; Daniel 7:21,25; 8:24,25; 11:36-39; 12:1

and power

10:11; 11:18; 17:15; Exodus 9:16; Isaiah 10:15; 37:26; Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6,7; Jeremiah 51:20-24; Daniel 5:18-23; Luke 4:6; John 19:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:15 - thou;  Jeremiah 27:15 - that I;  Ezekiel 9:4 - set a mark;  Daniel 8:12 - an host was given him against the daily sacrifice;  Daniel 11:33 - yet;  Nahum 3:19 - upon;  Matthew 24:24 - insomuch;  Matthew 24:49 - to smite;  Luke 12:45 - to beat;  John 14:6 - no;  Romans 12:16 - Mind;  2 Thessalonians 2:4 - sitteth;  1 John 5:19 - in wickedness;  Revelation 2:10 - the devil;  Revelation 9:5 - it was;  Revelation 9:21 - their murders;  Revelation 11:9 - the people;  Revelation 12:7 - war;  Revelation 13:5 - to continue;  Revelation 14:6 - every;  Revelation 17:6 - drunken

E.M. Zerr's Commentary on Selected Books of the New Testament

Was given unto him has virtually the same meaning as a like phrase in verse5. Also the Lord suffered these things to go on for the time being. Overcome them; this was true in two senses. He overpowered the faithful disciples with his ability to persecute them, even putting some of them to death. And he overcame some of them morally, such as were not steadfast in the faith. He also exercised a controlling influence over the lives of men in all kindreds, and tongues, and nations, because the Roman Empire was in power in all the Song of Solomon -called civilized world.

Hanserd Knollys' Commentary on Revelation

Revelation 13:7

Revelation 13:7-8 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

God permitted the devil, who gave the beast his seat, that Isaiah, his throne and power, to stir him up

to make war with the saints

that Isaiah, the woman and her seed, Revelation 12:14-17 especially the two prophetical witnesses of Jesus Christ, Revelation 11:7 And to overcome them, and kill them. See the exposition thereof. See KNOLLYS: Revelation 11:7

And power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

The beast's kingdom was greater, and his dominion of farther extent than any of the other seven heads. For all the inhabiters of the earth shall worship this beast;

whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb

(that Isaiah, all the non-elect)

slain from the foundation of the world;

that Isaiah, ordained and decreed from eternity to be slain. Namely, our Lord Jesus Christ, called the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. { John 1:29-36} They are safe, being sealed, { 2 Timothy 2:19} but the non-elect are in danger to be deceived and deluded by false prophets, apostles, and teachers, who are Satan's ministers, { 2 Corinthians 11:13-15} of whom our Saviour testified, { Matthew 24:24-25} and also his apostles. { 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; 2 Peter 2:1-4}

Ernst Hengstenberg on John, Revelation, Ecclesiastes, Ezekiel & Psalms

Revelation 13:7. And it was given him to make war and to overcome them.[Note: The words καὶ ἐδόθη— αὐτούς are wanting in important MSS., and are omitted by Lachmann. But they cannot be dispensed with-since, otherwise, only the first proposition of Revelation 13:5 would be developed, and either both must have a fuller development, or neither of them. The words also are confirmed by a comparison of ch. 11:7, an anticipatory passage, which required to be resumed here and set in its proper place; and by Daniel ch 7:21. Bengel: "The words here do not so exactly coinc1de with those in Daniel 7:21 that we should suppose them to have been borrowed thence." The omission can only have arisen from copyists gliding over one καὶ ἐδόθη to the other.] And power was given him over every tribe and people[Note: The word people is omitted by Luther (also in the English version), and thus the number four is lost, which, in all the parallel passages, is preserved in enumerations.] and tongue and nation. In ch. Revelation 11:7 it is said, "And when they have finished their testimony, the beast, which ascends out of the abyss, shall make war with them and overcome them." To this anticipatory passage a literal allusion is intentionally made in the verse before us. Hitherto it has possessed the character of a riddle, but here the riddle is explained. There the object of the conflict and the victory was the testimony, here it is believers generally. The fundamental passage is Daniel 7:21, "I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints and overcame them." The reference to this fundamental passage is full of consolation; for there immediately follows in Daniel 7:22, "Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints should possess the kingdom." What is said in Daniel primarily of the little horn is here applied to the beast, though that little horn corresponds with the Gog and Magog of Revelation. And so also what is said here of the beast, of his conflict with the church of Christ and his victory over it, holds good respecting Gog and Magog. Hence we may account for the extreme brevity of the description given us of Gog and Magog. What is merely indicated there, is to be extended and filled up from the delineation of the beast, whose activity, interrupted for a thousand years, is again resumed by Gog and Magog. Whenever this is duly attended to, the description of the beast acquires an entirely new meaning. It then no longer relates simply to things past, but has respect also to the conflicts which we ourselves have to maintain, and fills us with an apprehension of the desperate character which these conflicts may be expected increasingly to assume, as well as inspires us with courage to stand fast in the midst of them. The power consists in this, that all must either worship or suffer persecution; that the tribes and nations of the world have no choice left them between worship and death. By confining what is said here merely to the worshippers of the beast, the connection is lost with what precedes; and by confining it merely to Christians (Ewald), the connection with Revelation 13:8 is lost. In regard to the four number of the tribes, &c., see on ch. Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 10:11, Revelation 11:9; also Revelation 14:6, Revelation 17:15.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

7.Make war with the saints—By bloody wars, inquisitions, and burnings at the stake of all who would reform.

Overcome them—Subjecting them, by blood and terror, to her despotic authority, denying all “right of private judgment.”

All kindreds—The Roman beast styles herself solely catholic, that is, universal. She claims that every human being is bound to obey her. “You all belong to me,” said Pope Pius IX. to the Emperor William. She claims every American as her rightful subject, and the only reason at this hour that she does not force the claim by the same war and bloodshed, is want of power.

 

The Expositor's Greek Testament

Revelation 13:7_{. In Enoch xlvi. 7 the rulers and kings “make themselves masters of the stars of heaven [i.e., the righteous], and raise their hands against the Most High”. The beast’s world-wide authority goes back to the dragon’s commission (2) but ultimately to divine permission (so in 5). There is a providence higher even than the beast.}