And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
18. destroy them which destroy ] The verb used twice over is ambiguous, and perhaps has a meaning that we should express differently in the two places; as in 1Co 3:17. Thus neither the marginal rendering nor the text is wrong.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the nations were angry – Were enraged against thee. This they had shown by their opposition to his laws; by persecuting his people; by slaying his witnesses; by all the attempts which they had made to destroy his authority on the earth. The reference here seems to be to the whole series of events preceding the final establishment of his kingdom on the earth; to all the efforts which had been made to throw off his government and to crush his church. At this period of glorious triumph it was natural to look back to those dark times when the nations raged (compare Psa 2:1-3), and when the very existence of the church was in jeopardy.
And thy wrath is come – That is, the time when thou wilt punish them for all that they have done in opposition to thee, and when the wicked shall be cut off. There will be, in the setting up of the kingdom of God, some manifestation of his wrath against the powers that opposed it; or something that will show his purpose to destroy his enemies, and to judge the wicked. The representations in this book lead us to suppose that the final establishment of the kingdom of God on the earth will be introduced or accompanied by commotions and wars which will end in the overthrow of the great powers that have opposed his reign, and by such awful calamities in those portions of the world as shall show that God has arisen in his strength to cut off his enemies, and to appear as the vindicator of his people. Compare the notes on Rev 16:12-16; Rev. 19:11-26.
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged – According to the view which the course of the exposition thus far pursued leads us to entertain of this book, there is reference here, in few words, to the same thing which is more fully stated in Rev 20:1-15, and the meaning of the sacred writer will, therefore, come up for a more distinct and full examination when we consider that chapter. See the notes on Rev 20:4-6, Rev 20:12-15. The purpose of the writer does not require that a detailed statement of the order of the events referred to should be made here, for it would be better made when, after another line of illustration and of symbol Rev 11:19; Rev. 1219, he should have reached the same catastrophe, and when, in view of both the mind would be prepared for the fuller description with which the book closes, Rev. 2022. All that occurs here, therefore, is a very general statement of the final consumation of all things.
And that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants – The righteous. Compare Mat 25:34-40; Rev 21:22. That is, in the final winding-up of human affairs, God will bestow the long-promised reward on those who have been his true friends. The wicked that annoyed and persecuted them will annoy and persecute them no more; and the righteous will be publicly acknowledged as the friends of God. For the manner in which this will be done, see the details in Rev. 2022.
The prophets – All who, in every age, have faithfully proclaimed the truth. On the meaning of the word, see the notes on Rev 10:11.
And to the saints – To all who are holy – under whatever dispensation, and in whatever land, and at whatever time, they may have lived. Then will be the time when, in a public manner, they will be recognized as belonging to the kingdom of God, and as being his true friends.
And them that fear thy name – Another way of designating his people, since religion consists in a profound veneration for God, Mal 3:16; Job 1:1; Psa 15:4; Psa 22:23; Psa 115:11; Pro 1:7; Pro 3:13; Pro 9:10; Isa 11:2; Act 10:22, Act 10:35.
Small and great – Young and old; low and high; poor and rich. The language is designed to comprehend all, of every class, who have a claim to be numbered among the friends of God, and it furnishes a plain intimation that people of all classes will be found at last among his true people. One of the glories of the true religion is, that, in bestowing its favors, it disregards all the artificial distinctions of society, and addresses man as man, welcoming all who are human beings to the blessings of life and salvation. This will be illustriously shown in the last period of the worlds history, when the distinctions of wealth, and rank, and blood shall lose the importance which has been attributed to them, and when the honor of being a child of God shall have its true place. Compare Gal 3:28.
And shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth – That is, all who have, in their conquests, spread desolation over the earth and who have persecuted the righteous, and all who have done injustice and wrong to any class of people. Compare the notes on Rev 20:13-15.
Here ends, as I suppose, the first series of visions referred to in the volume sealed with the seven seals, Rev 5:1. At this point, where the division of the chapter should have been made, and which is properly marked in our common Bibles by the sign of the paragraph (),there commences a new series of visions, intended also, but in a different line, to extend down to the consummation of all things. The former series traces the history down mainly through the series of civil changes in the world, or the outward affairs which affect the destiny of the church; the latter – the portion still before us – embraces the same period with a more direct reference to the rise of antichrist, and the influence of that power in affecting the destiny of the Church. When that is completed Rev 11:19; Rev. 1219, the way is prepared Rev. 2022 for the more full statement of the final triumph of the gospel, and the universal prevalence of religion, with which the book so appropriately closes. That portion of the book, therefore, refers to the same period as the one which has just been considered under the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and the description of the final state of things would have immediately succeeded if it had not been necessary, by another series of visions, to trace more particularly the history of antichrist on the destiny of the church, and the way in which that great and fearful power would be finally overcome. See the Analysis of the Book, part 5. The way is then prepared for the description of the state of things which will exist when all the enemies of the church shall be subdued; when Christianity shall triumph; and when the predicted reign of God shall be set up on the earth, Rev. 2022.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. The nations were angry] Were enraged against thy Gospel, and determined to destroy it.
Thy wrath is come] The time to avenge thy servants and to destroy all thy enemies.
The time of the dead, that they should be judged] The word , to judge, is often used in the sense of to avenge. The dead, here, may mean those who were slain for the testimony of Jesus, and the judging is the avenging of their blood.
Give reward unto thy servants] Who have been faithful unto death.
The prophets] The faithful teachers in the Church, the saints-the Christians.
And them that fear thy name] All thy sincere followers.
Destroy them which destroy the earth.] All the authors, fomenters, and encouragers of bloody wars.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And the nations were angry; those who have not been of thy true Israel, but old or modern Gentiles, they have been angry long enough.
And thy wrath is come; now it is time for thee to show thyself angry, and thou hast begun to do it.
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged; the time is come for thee to judge the cause of thy faithtful witnesses, and all those who have died in testimony to thy truth.
And that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets; and for thee to reward such as have faithfully revealed thy will.
And to the saints; and not only them, but all thy holy ones.
And them that fear thy name, small and great; without respect to their quality in the world, be they little or great.
And shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth; the time also is come, when thou hast destroyed, or wilt destroy, that antichristian brood, which so long hath plagued the earth, and destroyed thy people in it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. the nations were angryalludingto Ps 99:1, Septuagint,“The Lord is become King: let the peoples become angry.“Their anger is combined with alarm (Exo 15:14;2Ki 19:28, “thy rageagainst Me is come up into Mine ears, I will put My hook in thynose,” c.). Translate, as the Greek is the same. “Thenations were angered, and Thy anger is come.” Howpetty man’s impotent anger, standing here side by side withthat of the omnipotent God!
dead . . . be judgedprovingthat this seventh trumpet is at the end of all things, when thejudgment on Christ’s foes and the reward of His saints, long prayedfor by His saints, shall take place.
the prophetsas, forinstance, the two prophesying witnesses (Re11:3), and those who have showed them kindness for Christ’s sake.Jesus shall come to effect by His presence that which we have lookedfor long, but vainly, in His absence, and by other means.
destroy them which destroythe earthRetribution in kind (compare Rev 16:6Luk 19:27). See on Da7:14-18.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the nations were angry,…. See Ps 99:1, which the Septuagint render, the “Lord reigns, let the nations be angry”. This refers not to the times of the dragon, or the Pagan Roman emperors, who were wroth with the woman, the church, and made war with her seed; but Rome Papal, and its Gentiles, are intended; these are the nations that antichrist reigns over: and it does not so much design their anger against Christ, and his people, expressed by their anathemas, excommunications, murders; and massacres, and bloody persecutions, which could not be cause of thanksgiving to the elders; but their anger and resentment at his power and reign, at having the outward court taken from them, said to be given them,
Re 11:2; and at their loss of power, profit, pleasure, and plenty, through the fall of Babylon, and the setting up of Christ’s kingdom; and though these things will make the Gentiles, the followers of antichrist, gnash their teeth, it will occasion joy and thanksgiving among the saints:
and thy wrath is come: the time is come to make Babylon, or the Romish antichrist, to drink of the wine of the fierceness of divine wrath; as the time of the Lamb’s wrath and vengeance upon Rome Pagan was come at the opening of the sixth seal, so the time of his wrath and vengeance on Rome Papal will be come at the sounding of the seventh trumpet:
and the time of the dead, that they should be judged; not the time of the wicked, who are dead in sins, while they live, and who die in their sins, not their time to be raised from the dead, in order to be judged, for they will not rise till after the thousand years are ended; nor the time of the dead in Christ, who will rise upon Christ’s personal coming, at the beginning of the thousand years; but this trumpet respects not the personal coming of Christ to raise the dead, and judge the world, but his spiritual coming to reign in his churches, and judge their enemies: the time of those that were dead for Christ, whose blood had been shed in his cause, the time for the vindication of them, and avenging their blood, is now come; the souls of those under the altar had been a long time crying to God to avenge their blood on them that dwell on the earth; and now the time will be come, when God will judge his people, vindicate their cause; and when he, to whom vengeance belongs, will repay it, by pouring out the vials of his wrath on the antichristian party, by giving them blood to drink, because they are worthy; this judgment will issue in the fall and ruin both of the western and eastern antichrist.
And that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants; not a reward of debt, but of grace; not the recompence of reward, or the reward of the inheritance in heaven; but some marks of honour and respect; some measure of happiness, peace, and joy, which Christ of his rich grace will give to his ministers and churches, and all that love him in this glorious period of time; and who are distinguished in the following manner,
the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great: by the “prophets” are meant, not the prophets of the Old Testament, but the prophets of the New; and not those extraordinary persons, who are distinguished on the one hand from apostles and evangelists, and on the other from pastors and teachers, who had an extraordinary gift of interpreting the Scriptures, and of foretelling things to come; but the ministers of the word, the two prophets or witnesses, who had prophesied in sackcloth, but shall now be clothed with salvation: and by “the saints” are designed such as were set apart by God the Father from eternity, and whose sins are expiated by the blood of Christ, and who are internally sanctified by the, Spirit of God, and externally separated from the rest of mankind, and incorporated into a Gospel church state, and are in holy fellowship one with another: and they that “fear the name” of God are such as truly love and reverence him, and worship him in Spirit and in truth, but are not members of any particular church; who yet will be taken notice of by the Lord, and a book of remembrance be written for them; so the proselytes from among the Gentiles are distinguished from the Israelites by the same character; [See comments on Ac 13:16]; or rather this is a general character of both ministers and churches, since to fear the name of the Lord is a phrase that includes all religious worship, internal and external. And now all these, “small and great”, whether greater or lesser believers, whether men of larger or meaner gifts and abilities, will all have the same reward, enjoy the same church privileges, partake of the same ordinances, in the purity of them, have the same communion with God, and fellowship with Christ, and one another, and share in, the same common peace, and liberty, and security from enemies: the last thing taken notice of by these elders, as matter of thanksgiving, is the destruction of antichrist.
And shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth; or “corrupt it”; meaning antichrist and his followers; who destroy the bodies, souls, and estates of men, and not only the inhabitants of the earth, but even the earth itself; for through that laziness and idleness which they spread wherever they come, a fruitful country is turned into barrenness; who corrupt the minds of men with false doctrine, idolatry, and superstition, and the bodies of women and men with all uncleanness and filthiness, with fornication, sodomy, c. Re 19:2 and are the cause of their own destruction, and the destruction of others; which, upon the blowing of the seventh trumpet, will come swiftly and irrecoverably. Now will Babylon sink as a millstone into the sea, never to be seen more; both the western and eastern antichrists are intended; the former is called the son of perdition, because of his destroying others, and going into perdition himself; and the latter is called “Abaddon” and “Apollyon”, which both signify a destroyer, 2Th 1:4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Were wroth (). Ingressive first aorist active indicative of , “became angry.” The culmination of wrath against God (Rev 16:13; Rev 20:8). Cf. Ps 2:1; Ps 2:5; Ps 2:12; Ps 99:1; Acts 4:25. John sees the hostility of the world against Christ.
Thy wrath came ( ). Second aorist active indicative of , the prophetic aorist again. The Dies Irae is conceived as already come.
The time of the dead to be judged ( ). For this use of see Mark 11:13; Luke 21:24. By “the dead” John apparently means both good and bad (John 5:25; Acts 24:21), coincident with the resurrection and judgment (Mark 4:29; Rev 14:15; Rev 20:1-15). The infinitive is the first aorist passive of , epexegetic use with the preceding clause, as is true also of (second aorist active infinitive of ), to give.
Their reward ( ). This will come in the end of the day (Mt 20:8), from God (Mt 6:1), at the Lord’s return (Re 22:12), according to each one’s work (1Co 3:8).
The small and the great ( ). The accusative here is an anacoluthon and fails to agree in case with the preceding datives after , though some MSS. have the dative , etc. John is fond of this phrase “the small and the great” (Rev 13:16; Rev 19:5; Rev 19:18; Rev 20:12).
To destroy (). First aorist active infinitive of , carrying on the construction with . Note , “those destroying” the earth (corrupting the earth). There is a double sense in that justifies this play on the word. See 19:2. In 1Ti 6:5 we have those “corrupted in mind” ( ). God will destroy the destroyers (1Co 3:16f.).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Were angry [] . See on wrath, Joh 3:36 Compare Psa 2:1.
The time [ ] . See on Mt 12:1.
Reward [] . See on 2Pe 2:13.
Destroy [] . Also to corrupt.
Which destroy [ ] . Or, the destroyers.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And the nations were angry,” (kai ta ethne orgistheson) “and the nations (races) were wrathful,” upon the earth, while the judgment reward of the redeemed was occurring in heaven where Christ had gathered His church and the redeemed of the ages, Mat 24:7; 1Th 4:16-18.
2) “And thy wrath is come,” (kai elthen he orge sou) “and thy wrath came,” is come upon the nations that had become embattled at the river Euphrates in the east and in Israel round about Jerusalem, Zec 14:3-5; Zec 14:16; Zec 14:20; Rev 9:14; Rev 16:12.
3) “And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,” (kai ho kairos ton nekron krithenai) “and the time-season of the dead to be judged,” before, the judgment seat (Gk. bema) of Christ, 2Co 5:10-11; 1Co 3:8; 1Co 3:13; 1Co 3:15; Rom 14:11-12.
4) “And that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets,” (kai dounai ton misthon tois doulois sou tois prophetais) “And the (time period) to give (dole out) rewards to thy servants, the prophets (the two witnesses as prophets),” to Israel and the church, presided over by the twenty-four elders, Rev 11:3-6; Luk 22:28-30; Mal 3:16-18.
5) “And to the saints, and them that fear thy name,” (kai tois hagiois kai tois phoboumenois to onoma sou) “even to those saints and those fearing (reverencing) thy name (thy authority),” Mal 3:16-18; Mat 25:28; Luk 19:17.
6) “Small and great,” (tois mikrios kai tois megalois) “the small ones and the great ones,” 1Co 3:8; Rev 22:12. The least believer shall not be left out, 2Jn 1:8; Joh 12:26.
7) “And shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth,” (kai diaphtheirai tous diaphtheirontas ten gen) and to destroy those destroying the earth,” by corrupting it and by war, 1Jn 2:17; Rev 13:10; Rev 18:2; Rev 18:6.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
18. Nations were angry On the side of antichrist they will rally in arms against God and the Lamb.
Wrath is come In the terrible carnage of Rev 19:11-21, and the fire from heaven of Rev 20:9.
Judged Rev 20:11.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And the nations were angry, and your wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to your servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.’
Now God reigns His judgment begins. The nations were angry against God, for they were facing many trials and blamed God rather than themselves, now they will face the anger of God in return, His anger at sin. The time has come for both the dead and the living to be judged.
Along with the righteous the unrighteous have also been raised so that they may face that judgment. ‘The Lord reigns, let the people tremble, he dwells between the cherubim, let the earth be moved’ (Psa 99:1). But it is also the time when His people receive their rewards for faithful service ( Rom 14:10-12 ; 1Co 3:10-15; 1Co 4:5). Especially mentioned with honour are the prophets. This must have special reference to the ‘two prophets’ who bore faithful witness in Jerusalem (why else are the prophets singled out?). But along with them will be God’s people (the saints) and the God-fearers (Act 10:2; Act 10:35; Rom 2:14-16), those who before the spread of the Gospel responded to God and believed in Him. And in contrast, those who destroyed the earth will be destroyed.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Ver. 18. Were angry ] Sed vanae sine viribus irae; the wrath of these men turned to the glory of God.
That they should be judged ] According to their prayer, and thy promise, Rev 6:10-11 .
And shouldest destroy them ] God usually retaliates and proportions jealousy to jealousy, provocation to provocation, Deu 32:21 ; frowardness to frowardness, Psa 18:26 ; contrariety to contrariety, Lev 26:18 ; Lev 26:21 ; destruction to destruction, as here. He pays them home in their own coin.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rev 11:18 . . = defiant rage ( cf. Rev 16:11 ), not the mere terror of Rev 6:17 , at the messianic . The prophets are as usual the most prominent of the . If the after is retained, it is epexegetic (as in Gen 4:4 , Gal 6:16 ), not a subtle mark of division between Jewish and Gentile Christians (Vlter) or (in a Jewish source) saints and proselytes. The same interpretation (for . cf. Introd. 6) must be chosen, if is omitted (as, e.g. , by Bousset and Baljon), but the evidence is far too slight to justify the deletion. . “When Nero perished by the justest doom/Which ever the destroyer yet destroyed” (Byron). Contrast the exultant tone of this retrospective thanksgiving with the strain of foreboding which is sounded in Rev 12:12 before the actual conflict.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
is come = came. See Isa 26:20, Isa 26:21.
time. Greek. kairos. See App-195.
dead. App-139.
judged. App-122. See Rev 20:12-15. Joh 5:24. Rom 8:1.
that Thou shouldest = to.
reward = the reward.
servants. App-190.
prophets. App-189. See Heb 11:32.
saints. See Rev 13:7, Rev 13:10; Rev 14:12; Rev 16:6. This special term for O.T. saints is found in Dan 7:18, &c. See Act 9:13.
small . . . great = the small . . . the great.
shouldest = to.
destroy = are destroying. They are found in Ch. Rev 18:19, Rev 18:20.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rev 11:18. ) that is, . For does not seem here to be joined with (although often in other places time is both understood to be, and is said to come, and that, in one place, jointly, Psa 102:14), since that sentence, , , is now finished. In like manner, is understood after the verb , ch. Rev 22:12. In like manner, (namely, ) , 1Pe 4:17; , Mar 13:33.- , of the dead) of mortals and the departed. The German Exegesis quotes many passages of Scripture speaking in this manner. Add the son of Sirach, before noticed, on Jud 1:4.-) This verb, equally with , is spoken concerning God, and answers to the Hebrew , which is likewise spoken of God. Isa 66:16; Eze 38:22, in the Hebrew; and Eze 17:20; Eze 20:35-36; Joe 3:2, in the Hebrew, and in the Septuagint, where, however, the reading is not , but ; and Jer 2:35; Jer 25:31, in which the Septuagint has . There is an allusion to the wonderful (condescension) of the Supreme Judge, whereby, for the sake of showing the justice of His cause, He blends discussion [controversy] with His unbending judgment. , Rom 3:4, note.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
the nations: Rev 11:2, Rev 11:9, Rev 11:10, Rev 17:12-15, Rev 19:19, Rev 19:20, Psa 2:1-3, Isa 34:1-10, Isa 63:1-6, Eze 38:9-23, Joe 3:9-14, Mic 7:15-17, Zec 14:2, Zec 14:3
and thy: Rev 6:15-17, Rev 14:10, Rev 15:1, Rev 15:7, Rev 16:1-21, Rev 19:15
and the time: Rev 6:10, Rev 6:11, Rev 20:4, Rev 20:5, Rev 20:12, Rev 20:15, Isa 26:19-21, Dan 7:9, Dan 7:10, Dan 12:1, Dan 12:2, Heb 9:27
and that: Rev 22:12, Mat 5:12, 2Th 1:5-7, Heb 11:25, Heb 11:26
and them: Rev 19:5, Psa 85:9, Psa 103:11, Psa 115:13, Psa 115:14, Psa 147:11, Ecc 8:12, Ecc 12:13, Luk 1:50
shouldest: Rev 13:10, Rev 18:6, Rev 18:16-24, Rev 19:19, Rev 19:21, Dan 7:26, Dan 8:25, Dan 11:44, Dan 11:45
which destroy: or, which corrupt
Reciprocal: 1Ch 16:33 – because Est 9:1 – though it was turned Psa 7:7 – So Psa 45:4 – right Psa 58:10 – righteous Psa 76:10 – Surely Psa 94:13 – until the pit Psa 96:13 – he cometh Psa 110:5 – in the day Ecc 3:17 – for Isa 10:26 – his rod Isa 45:24 – and all Jer 6:28 – corrupters Jer 26:5 – my Eze 32:9 – vex Dan 8:19 – the last Joe 3:2 – will plead Mic 7:16 – nations Mal 4:2 – that fear Act 26:22 – witnessing 2Th 1:6 – General Rev 6:2 – and he went Rev 6:17 – the great Rev 13:7 – and power Rev 13:16 – both Rev 14:7 – Fear Rev 16:6 – for they are
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 11:18. Nations were angry. That is that part of them that still wished to profit by the deception of the people. Thy wrath is come means that God’s vengeance had come upon the apostate church for abusing His word. The time of the dead also hath come, meaning the dead whose souls John saw under the altar (chapter 6:9). They cried for vengeance or judgment and were told that “their time” would come. Now that time has come and God has judged the apostate church by separating her from the advantages of temporal power. At the same time He gave reward to his faithful servants by having His word placed again in their hands. Destory them which destroy the earth refers to the same evil men described before who planned to destroy (corrupt in the margin) the earth.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Verse 18.
Verse 18 declares that the nations were angry in fulfillment of Psa 2:2; Psa 2:5 and Act 4:24-30. It represented the attitude of the heathen world toward the gospel of Christ. The day of God’s wrath had come on the persecuting powers, as depicted in Rev 6:17. The time of the dead that they should be judged had come–they were dead as persecutors and as lord’s of dominion over the servants of Christ, as in Isa 26:13; Isa 26:19 in reference to Israel. The time of avenging judgment had come, for the witnesses of Rev 11:7-8; and for the martyrs of Rev 6:9-11; and for “all righteous blood shed upon the earth” of Mat 23:35. The time had come to give victory’s reward unto his servants the prophets; and to the saints; and them that fear thy name. The imagery delineates the ruin of the enemies and the reward of the servants and saints of God and Christ–summed up in the phrase small and great, the full aggregation of them that fear thy name. These all, in the aggregate, were included in song of glorified elders. The Jewish rulers, aided by Roman rulers, who together contrived to destroy the earth in their opposition to the kingdom of God, by the persecutions waged were themselves destroyed. In Mat 21:33-46, Jesus specifically pictured this end of the Jewish rulers and their state.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rev 11:18. contains the second part of the song of praise, defining more accurately, and apparently in three particulars, the precise nature of the moment which had arrived, and of the events which distinguish it. The first of these particulars is, The nations were roused to wrath (comp. Psa 2:1, and especially Rev 20:3; Rev 20:9). Instead of being converted at the last moment, the nations are excited to fiercer rage than ever against God. They are not merely angry against Him; that they had always been. They are roused to a sudden burst of wrath. Such is the true meaning of the original; and, thus looked at, the words before us really form an epitome of chap. Rev 20:7-9. The second particular is, Thy wrath came, the wrath of God, so much more terrible than that of the nations. The third particular occupies the remainder of the verse, and seems again to be subdivided into three parts(1) The time of the dead to be judged. By the dead here we are not to understand all men both good and bad, but simply the latter; the judgment spoken of is not general, it belongs to the wicked alone. This appears from the use of the word judge, which is always employed by St. John to indicate only what is due to sin and sinners, as well as from the fact that the giving reward immediately described is obviously not a part of the judgment, but an independent member of the group of things here spoken of. (2) And to give their reward unto thy servants the prophets, both the saints, and them that fear thy name, the small and the great. Much difficulty has been experienced by commentators in their attempts to arrange these clauses. Without dwelling on the opinions of others, we suggest that the true arrangement is to take the first class mentioned, thy servants the prophets, as standing alone at the head of the group, and as including all those classes afterwards referred to. All Gods people are prophets. As we have seen in the previous part of the chapter, they are witnesses who prophesy; they proclaim the Word of God to a sinful world (comp. Rev 11:3). These prophets are then divided into two classes, the saints, and they that fear Gods name. The two classes appear to be mentioned upon the principle of which we have already had several illustrations, that objects are beheld by the Seer in two aspects, the one taken from the sphere of Jewish, the other from that of Gentile, thought. Saints, or consecrated ones, was the name for all true Israelites. They that fear God was, as we see in the Acts of the Apostles, the appellation constantly applied to Gentile Proselytes. No distinction is indeed drawn between a Jewish and a Gentile portion of the Church. Both are really one, but they may be, and are, viewed under a double aspect. The last clause, the small and the great, then applies to all who have been mentioned. While, therefore, the dead are judged, the children of God, the members of His believing Church, receive their reward. (3) And to destroy them which destroy the earth, where the lex talionis is again worthy of notice.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Worldly nations had shown their anger by killing God’s messengers and rejoicing at their deaths. The elders here rejoice that, in response to man’s wrath, God has brought his wrath and judged all people. The righteous were first rewarded and then the wicked revealed.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
11:18 {30} And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
(30) A speech of the Hebrew language, as if to say, as Gentiles being angry, your inflamed wrath came on them, and showed itself from heaven, occasioned by their anger and fury.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The elders continue to anticipate the beginning of Messiah’s rule on earth by foreseeing the raging response of unbelieving Gentiles (cf. Rev 16:14; Rev 16:16; Rev 16:19; Rev 20:8-9; Psa 2:1; Psa 2:5; Psa 2:12) and the outpouring of God’s holy wrath (cf. Mat 3:7; Luk 3:7; Rom 2:5; Rom 2:8; Rom 5:9; 1Th 1:10; 1Th 5:9). They also see the judgment of the dead and the rewarding of believers. They not only give thanks that Christ reigns supremely (Rev 11:17) but that He judges righteously and rewards graciously (Rev 11:18).
"Although rewards are all of grace (Rom 4:4), they vary according to what each has done (1Co 3:8)." [Note: Mounce, p. 232.]
"The elders in their song make no attempt to separate the different phases of judgment as they are separated in the closing chapters of Revelation. They simply sing of that future judgment as though it were one event, much on the order of other Scriptures that do not distinguish future judgments from each other (cf. Mar 4:29; Joh 5:25; Joh 5:28-29; Act 17:31; Act 24:21)." [Note: Thomas, Revelation 8-22, pp. 110-11.]
The elders distinguished two groups of believers: the Old Testament and New Testament prophets, who communicated divine revelation, and the saints, namely, other believers. [Note: See Stanton, Kept from . . ., pp. 65-69.] They further described these saints as even (ascensive use of "and," Gr. kai) those who fear God’s name, both small and great (i.e., all kinds; cf. Rev 13:16; Rev 19:5; Rev 19:18; Rev 20:12). The elders also anticipated the destruction of the wicked who have been responsible for the divine judgments that have destroyed the earth. John would soon learn of the destruction of some of these destroyers, namely, Babylon, the beast, the false prophet, and Satan.