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J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Revelation 12:10

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying - Now, hath come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; because the accuser of our brethren hath been cast out, who was accusing them before our God day and night;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Jesus Continued;   Satan;   Slander;   Temptation;   Vision;   Scofield Reference Index - Dispensation;   Kingdom of Heaven;   Thompson Chain Reference - Brethren;   Church;   Family;   God's;   Kingdom;   Kingdom, Spiritual;   Names;   Satan;   Spiritual;   Titles and Names;   The Topic Concordance - Devil/devils;   War/weapons;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Devil, the;   Slander;   Titles and Names of the Devil;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dragon;   Satan;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Martyr;   Satan;   Victory;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Destroy, Destruction;   Heaven, Heavens, Heavenlies;   Zechariah, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Devil;   Order;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Accuser;   Devil;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Accuser;   Angels;   Anna;   Antipas;   Devil;   Jesus Christ;   Micaiah;   Revelation of John, the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Accuser;   Revelation, the Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Antichrist;   Devil;   Revelation, Book of;   Satan;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Apocalypse;   Atonement (2);   Authority;   Devil ;   Divination;   Dragon ;   Enoch Book of;   Gospel (2);   Kingdom Kingdom of God;   Power Powers;   Salvation Save Saviour;   Satan (2);   Sin (2);   Voice;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Accuser, the,;   Adversary, the;   Satan ;   Serpent;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Joseph;   Lion;   Satan;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Devil;   Kingdom of christ of heaven;   Kingdom of god;   Kingdom of heaven;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Devil;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Accuser;   Authority in Religion;   Parousia;   Satan;   Slander;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Accuser;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Apocalypse;   Fall of Angels;   Lucifer;   Satan;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for August 28;   Every Day Light - Devotion for April 20;  

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then I heard a loude voyce in heauen, saying, Now is saluation, and strength, and the kingdome of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast downe, which accused them before our God day and night.
Christian Standard Bible®
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say,
Hebrew Names Version
I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now is come the salvation, the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.
Darby Translation
And I heard a great voice in the heaven saying, Now is come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren has been cast out, who accused them before our God day and night:
Easy-to-Read Version
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, "The victory and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah have now come. These things have come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown out. He is the one who accused them day and night before our God.
Amplified Bible
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for the accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night.
American Standard Version
And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night.
Berean Standard Bible
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down-he who accuses them day and night before our God.
Contemporary English Version
Then I heard a voice from heaven shout, "Our God has shown his saving power, and his kingdom has come! God's own Chosen One has shown his authority. Satan accused our people in the presence of God day and night. Now he has been thrown out!
Complete Jewish Bible
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now have come God's victory, power and kingship, and the authority of his Messiah; because the Accuser of our brothers, who accuses them day and night before God, has been thrown out!
International Standard Version
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say,Job 1:1:9; 2:5; Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 11:15; 19:1;">[xr] "Now the salvation, the power, the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ[fn] have come. For the one accusing our brothers, the one who accuses them day and night in the presence of our God, has been thrown out.
Etheridge Translation
And I heard a great voice in heaven saying, Now is there salvation and strength, And the kingdom of our God, And the power of his Meshiha; Because the accuser of our brethren is cast down, Who accused them before Aloha day and night.
Murdock Translation
And I heard a great voice in heaven, which said: Now is there deliverance, and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the dominion of his Messiah: because the Accuser of our brethren is cast out, who accused them day and night before our God.
King James Version (1611)
And I heard a lowd voyce saying in heauen, Now is come saluation, and strength, and the kingdome of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And I hearde a loude voyce saying in heauen: Nowe is made saluation, & strength, & the kingdome of our God, & the power of his Christ: For the accuser of our brethren is cast downe, which accused them before our God day & nyght,
English Revised Version
And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accuseth them before our God day and night.
King James Version
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Lexham English Bible
And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
New American Standard Bible
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
New Century Version
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: "The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come. The accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accused them day and night before our God, has been thrown down.
New English Translation
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our God, has been thrown down.
New King James Version
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
New Living Translation
Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, "It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
New Revised Standard
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming, "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night.
George Lamsa Translation
And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, Now the deliverance and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ, has been accomplished: for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before God day and night, is cast down.
Good News Translation
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven.
World English Bible
I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now is come the salvation, the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come the salvation, and the might, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast out, who accused them before our God day and night.
Weymouth's New Testament
Then I heard a loud voice speaking in Heaven. It said, "The salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God have now come, and the sovereignty of His Christ; for the accuser of our brethren has been hurled down--he who, day after day and night after night, was wont to accuse them in the presence of God.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y herde a greet vois in heuene, seiynge, Now is maad helthe, and vertu, and kyngdom of oure God, and the power of his Crist; for the accuser of oure britheren is cast doun, which accuside hem bifor the siyte of oure God dai and nyyt.
Webster's Bible Translation
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.
Revised Standard Version
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And I harde a lowde voyce sayinge: in heve is nowe made salvacio and strengthe and ye kyngdome of oure God and the power of his Christ For he is cast doune which accused them before god daye and nyght.
Update Bible Version
And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now has come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brothers is cast down, who accuses them before our God day and night.
Young's Literal Translation
And I heard a great voice saying in the heaven, `Now did come the salvation, and the power, and the reign, of our God, and the authority of His Christ, because cast down was the accuser of our brethren, who is accusing them before our God day and night;
Bible in Basic English
And a great voice in heaven came to my ears, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: because he who says evil against our brothers before our God day and night is forced down.
Literal Translation
And I heard a great voice saying in Heaven, Now has come the salvation and power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ, because the accuser of our brothers is thrown down, the one accusing them before our God day andnight.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And I harde a lowde voyce, which sayde in heauen: Now is saluacion, and strength and the kyngdome become oure Gods, and ye power his Christes: For he is cast downe, which accused them before God daye and night.
Mace New Testament (1729)
then I heard a loud voice, which cry'd in the heaven, "the time of salvation, and power, the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ are now come: for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, is cast down.
New Life Bible
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God has saved from the punishment of sin! God's power as King has come! God's holy nation has come! God's Christ is here with power! The one who spoke against our Christian brothers has been thrown down to earth. He stood before God speaking against them day and night.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Then a booming voice from heaven said, "Salvation and power has come! God has shown his power as King and the authority of his Messiah. The accuser of man has been cast down out of heaven.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

Contextual Overview

1 And, a great sign, appeared in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and, the moon, beneath her feet, and, upon her head, a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child, and crieth out, being in pangs and in anguish to bring forth? 3 And there appeared another sign in heaven; and lo! a great red dragon, - having seven heads and ten horns, and, upon his heads, seven diadems; 4 and, his tail, draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth. And, the dragon, stood before the woman who was about to bring forth, that, as soon as she should bring forth, he might devour, her child. 5 And she brought forth a son, a manchild, who was about to shepherd all the nations with a sceptre of iron; and her child was caught away unto God and unto his throne. 6 And, the woman, fled into the desert, where she hath a place prepared of God, that, there, they should nourish her a thousand, two hundred, and sixty days. 7 And there came to be war in heaven: Michael and his messengers going forth to war with the dragon; and, the dragon, fought, and his messengers; 8 and he prevailed not, neither was place found for them, any longer, in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, - the ancient serpent, he that is called Adversary and the Satan, that deceiveth the whole habitable world, - he was cast to the earth, and his messengers, with him, were cast. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying - Now, hath come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; because the accuser of our brethren hath been cast out, who was accusing them before our God day and night;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I heard: Revelation 11:15, Revelation 19:1-7

the kingdom: 1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalms 22:28, Psalms 45:6, Psalms 145:11-13, Daniel 2:44, Matthew 6:10, Luke 11:2

the power: Revelation 2:26, Psalms 2:8-12, Psalms 110:5, Psalms 110:6, Matthew 26:64, Matthew 28:18, 1 Corinthians 5:4, 2 Corinthians 12:9

the accuser: Job 1:9, Job 2:5, Zechariah 3:1, Zechariah 3:2, Luke 22:31, Titus 2:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 23:1 - an unrighteous witness 1 Kings 22:22 - a lying spirit 1 Chronicles 21:1 - Satan Ezra 4:6 - wrote Job 1:6 - Satan Psalms 50:20 - slanderest Psalms 52:2 - Thy Psalms 126:3 - General Psalms 145:12 - make known Isaiah 13:11 - I will punish Isaiah 29:20 - and all Isaiah 50:8 - mine adversary Isaiah 54:17 - every Isaiah 59:19 - the enemy Ezekiel 22:9 - men that carry tales Zephaniah 3:15 - he hath Matthew 3:7 - O generation Luke 3:14 - accuse Acts 4:26 - against his Romans 8:33 - Who Romans 16:20 - shall Ephesians 4:31 - evil speaking 1 Timothy 3:11 - not Revelation 2:7 - To him Revelation 19:6 - for Revelation 21:3 - a great

Cross-References

Genesis 12:1
And Yahweh said unto Abram: Come thou on thy way, Out of thy land and out of the place of thy birth and out of the house of thy father, - Unto the land that I will show thee;
Genesis 12:2
That I may make thee into a great nation, And bless thee and make great thy name, And become thou a blessing;
Genesis 12:3
That I may bless them who bless thee, But him who maketh light of thee, will I curse, - So shall be, blessed in thee, all the families of the ground.
Genesis 12:4
And Abram came on his way, according to that which Yahweh had spoken unto him, and Lot came with him, - now, Abram, was seventy-five years old, when he came forth out of Haran.
Genesis 12:8
And he moved on from thence towards the hill country, on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, - with Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east, and bulk there an altar to Yahweh, and called on the name of Yahweh.
Genesis 12:18
And Pharaoh called out to Abram, and said, What is this thou hast done to me? Wherefore didst thou not tell me, that she was, thy wife?
Genesis 42:5
Thus came in the sons of Israel, to buy corn in the midst of them that came - for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 43:1
But the famine, was severe in the land.
Genesis 47:13
But, bread, was there none in all the land, - for the famine was, very severe, - so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine,
Ruth 1:1
And it came to pass, in the days when the Judges administered justice, that there was a famine in the land, - and so a certain man went his way, out of Bethlehem-judah to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,.... Which was a song of praise on account of the victory obtained by Michael and his angels over the dragon and his, or for the overthrow and downfall of Paganism in the Roman empire; for by "heaven" is meant the empire, now become Christian, or the Christian church state in it; and the "loud voice" heard in it by John shows that there was a great number in it, who rejoiced on this occasion, and that they were full of affection and fervency, and therefore expressed themselves in such manner, and in form following:

now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; "salvation" was come when Christ obtained it by his sufferings and death, and comes to particular persons in the effectual calling, and it will only be fully come when it is perfectly enjoyed in heaven: but here it designs a deliverance from Satan, as the god of this world, who was now dethroned, and cast down from his power, authority, and influence in the empire; and from Pagan idolatry and superstition, and from the ten days of tribulation, the cruel and bloody persecutions under the Heathen emperors; and denotes that safety and security, comfort, peace, and happiness, the churches enjoyed under the government of a Christian emperor: and now was come "strength"; not the strength of Christ personal, displayed in the redemption of his people; but rather of Christ mystical, of his church and interest, which had been very weak and low, and under oppression and persecution, but was now exalted, and in a flourishing condition, and was become strong and mighty; or it may design the strength and power of Christ, shown in destroying his enemies, in casting the dragon out of heaven down to the earth, and in bringing to confusion and destruction the Heathen emperors, princes, and others, who fled to the rocks and mountains for fear of him, and because of his great wrath: also now came "the kingdom of our God", the Gospel of the kingdom was preached everywhere and Gospel churches were set up in all parts of the empire, both which are sometimes signified by the kingdom of God; here was now an illustrious appearance of the kingdom of God in the world, such as had never been before; and which was a pledge and presage of the greatness of the kingdom, or of that everlasting kingdom which will be set up hereafter, when all other kingdoms will be at an end: to which is added "the power of his Christ"; or his authority as Lord and Christ, which took place at his resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of God, and which will more fully appear at the last day, when he shall come in glory, and exercise his authority in judging the quick and dead, of which there was some resemblance at this time, in dethroning Satan, destroying Paganism, and putting an end to the power of the Heathen emperors and empire; and which is expressed in such language as the day of judgment is, Revelation 6:12; for to the opening of the sixth seal does this passage belong: a further account is given of the matter of this song, and the reason of it:

for the accuser of our brethren is cast down; hence it appears that this is not a song of the angels in heaven, since the saints are never called their brethren, nor the angels theirs, but their fellow servants; rather it may be thought to be the song of the saints in heaven, acknowledging those on earth to be their brethren, as they are, for there is but one family in heaven and in earth, and the saints on earth are called the of the souls under the altar, Revelation 6:9; but as this refers to the state of the church in Constantine's time, it must be the song of the saints in that state, who call the martyrs, that had been slain under the former persecutions, their brethren; for that they are the persons meant is clear from the following verse, whom Satan is an accuser of, for he is designed here; the word rendered "devil" signifies an accuser, and a false one, and is so translated Titus 2:3; this is a name frequently given to Satan by the Jews, and have adopted into their language the very Greek word q that is here used; and often say of him that he accuses Israel, and particularly that he accuses Israel above, that is, in heaven; and that he stands and מקטרג תמיד r, "continually accuses them", the very phrase used in the next clause: when Israel came out of Egypt, they say s the angel Samael (the devil) stood and accused them; the first day of the month Tisri, according to them t, is appointed a day for blowing of trumpets, to confound Satan, who comes to accuse at that time; so they say u that Satan stood and accused Abraham, and others; and indeed he was an accuser from the beginning, both of God to men, and of men to God; we have instances in Job and Joshua the high priest, Job 1:8 Zechariah 3:1; but here it refers to the accusations brought against the Christians in the primitive times, during the ten persecutions, which were very horrid ones indeed; as that they had their private suppers, at which they ate their own infants, and their nightly meetings, for the gratifying of their lusts, in which they committed adultery, incest, and all manner of uncleanness; if ever a fire happened in a city, they were charged with it; and whenever there were any famine, or pestilence, or wars, or any public calamity, they were accused as the cause and occasion of it; as appears from the apologies for them written by Justin, Tertullian, Cyprian, Minutius Felix, c. so that Satan at this time was remarkably the accuser of the brethren but now this father of lies was cast down, he was cast out of heaven, and deprived of that power and authority he had in the empire, and lost his influence over men, and could not spread his lies, and get his false charges and accusations credited and received as before; he was not indeed wholly destroyed, nor even shut up in the bottomless pit, but he was cast down to the earth; he was in a low condition, his power was greatly diminished, and he was conquered by Christ, and cast down and bruised under the feet of the saints,

which accused them before our God day and night; so the evil spirit in Ahab's time, and Satan in Job's time, are said to stand before the Lord: and this shows the malice, and also the insolence of the devil, that he should stand and accuse the saints before God, who he knew was their God, and was on their side, and therefore his accusations could be of no avail; and though Christ appears in the presence of God for them, and is their advocate with the Father, yet he is constant and indefatigable in going about, and picking up charges against them, and carrying them to God.

q Pirke Abot, c. 4. sect. 11. Maimon. & Bartenora in ib. r Shaare Ora, fol. 21. 4. & 24. 2. s Shemot Rabba, sect. 21. fol. 106. 4. t Targum Jon. in Numb. xxix. 1. u Zohar in Numb. fol. 107. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven - The great enemy was expelled; the cause of God and truth was triumphant; and the conquering hosts united in celebrating the victory. This representation of a song, consequent on victory, is in accordance with the usual representations in the Bible. See the song of Moses at the Red Sea, Exodus 15:0; the song of Deborah, Judges 5:0; the song of David when the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, 2 Samuel 22:0; and Isa 12:25. On no occasion could such a song be more appropriate than on the complete routing and discomfiture of Satan and his rebellious hosts. Viewed in reference to the time here symbolized, this would relate to the certain triumph of the church and of truth on the earth; in reference to the language, there is an allusion to the joy and triumph of the heavenly hosts when Satan and his apostate legions were expelled.

Now is come salvation - That is, complete deliverance from the power of Satan.

And strength - That is, now is the mighty power of God manifested in casting down and subduing the great enemy of the church.

And the kingdom of our God - The reign of our God. See the notes on Matthew 3:2. That is now established among people, and God will henceforward rule. This refers to the certain ultimate triumph of his cause in the world.

And the power of his Christ - His anointed; that is, the kingdom of Christ as the Messiah, or as anointed and set apart to rule over the world. See the notes on Matthew 1:1.

For the accuser of our brethren is cast down - The phrase “our brethren” shows by whom this song is celebrated. It is sung in heaven; but it is by those who belonged to the redeemed church, and whose brethren were still suffering persecution and trial on the earth. It shows the tenderness of the tie which unites all the redeemed as brethren, whether on earth or in heaven; and it shows the interest which they “who have passed the flood” have in the trials, the sorrows, and the triumphs of those who are still upon the earth. We have here another appellation given to the great enemy - “accuser of the brethren.” The word used here - κατήγορος katēgoros, in later editions of the New Testament κατήγωρ katēgōr - means properly “an accuser,” one who blames another, or charges another with crime. The word occurs in John 8:10; Acts 23:30, Acts 23:35; Acts 24:8; Acts 25:16, Acts 25:18; Revelation 12:10, in all which places it is rendered “accuser” or “accusers,” though only in the latter place applied to Satan. The verb frequently occurs, Matthew 12:10; Matthew 27:12; Mark 3:2; Mark 15:3, et al.

The description of Satan as an accuser accords with the opinion of the ancient Hebrews in regard to his character. Thus he is represented in Job 1:9-11; Job 2:4-5; Zec 3:1-2; 1 Chronicles 21:1. The phrase “of the brethren” refers to Christians, or to the people of God; and the meaning here is, that one of the characteristics of Satan - a characteristic so well known as to make it proper to designate him by it - is that he is an accuser of the righteous; that he is employed in bringing against them charges affecting their character and destroying their influence. The propriety of this appellation cannot be doubted. It is, as it has always been, one of the characteristics of Satan - one of the means by which he keeps up his influence in the world - to bring accusations against the people of God. Thus, under his suggestions, and by his agents, they are charged with hypocrisy; with insincerity; with being influenced by bad motives; with pursuing sinister designs under the cloak of religion; with secret vices and crimes. Thus it was that the martyrs were accused; thus it is that unfounded accusations are often brought against ministers of the gospel, palsying their power and diminishing their influence, or that when a professed Christian falls the church is made to suffer by an effort to cast suspicion on all who bear the Christian name. Perhaps the most skillful thing that Satan does, and the thing by which he most contributes to diminish the influence of the church, is in thus causing “accusations” to be brought against the people of God.

Is cast down - The period here referred to was, doubtless, the time when the church was about to be established and to flourish in the world, and when accusations would be brought against Christians by various classes of calumniators and informers. It is well known that in the early ages of Christianity crimes of the most horrid nature were charged on Christians, and that it was by these slanders that the effort was made to prevent the extension of the Christian church.

Which accused them before our God - See the notes on Job 1:9-10. The meaning is, that he accused them, as it were, in the very presence of God.

Day and night - He never ceased bringing these accusations, and sought by the perseverance and constancy with which they were urged to convince the world that there was no sincerity in the church and no reality in religion.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Revelation 12:10. The accuser of our brethren — There is scarcely any thing more common in the rabbinical writings than Satan as the accuser of the Israelites. And the very same word κατηγορος, accuser, or, as it is in the Codex Alexandrinus, κατηγωρ, is used by them in Hebrew letters, קטיגור katigor; e. gr., Pirkey Eliezer, c. 46, speaking of the day of expiation; "And the holy blessed God hears their testimony from their accuser, הקטיגור מן min hakkatigor; and expiates the altar, the priests, and the whole multitude, from the greatest to the least."

In Shemoth Rabba, sec. 31, fol. 129, 2, are these words; "If a man observes the precepts, and is a son of the law, and lives a holy life, then Satan stands and accuses him."

"Every day, except the day of expiation Satan is the accuser of men."-Vayikra Rabba, sec. 21, fol. 164.

"The holy blessed God said to the seventy princes of the world, Have ye seen him who always accuses my children?"-Yalcut Chadash, fol. 101, 3.

"The devil stands always as an accuser before the King of Israel."-Sohar Levit., fol. 43, col. 171. See much more in Schoettgen.

NOTES ON CHAP. XII., BY J. E. C.

Ver. Revelation 12:10. And I heard a loud voice, saying,-Now is come salvation, c.] This is a song of triumph of the Christian Church over the heathen idolatry, and is very expressive of the great joy of the Christians upon this most stupendous event. The loud voice of triumph is said to be heard in heaven, to show that the Christian religion was now exalted to the heaven or throne of the Roman. empire. "It is very remarkable," as Bishop Newton observes, "that Constantine himself, and the Christians of his time, describe his conquests under the image of a dragon, as if they had understood that this prophecy had received its accomplishment in him. Constantine himself, in his epistle to Eusebius and other bishops concerning the re-edifying and repairing of the churches, saith that 'liberty being now restored, and that the dragon being removed from the administration of public affairs, by the providence of the great God and by my ministry, I esteem the great power of God to have been made manifest to all.' Moreover, a picture of Constantine was set up over the palace gate, with the cross over his head, and under his feet the great enemy of mankind, who persecuted the Church by means of impious tyrants, in the form of a dragon, transfixed with a dart through the midst of his body, and falling headlong into the depth of the sea." See Eusebius de Vita Constantini, lib. ii. c. 46 and lib. iii. c. 3, and Socratis Hist. Eccles., lib. i. c. 9. Constantine added to the other Roman ensigns the labarum, or standard of the cross, and constituted it the principal standard of the Christian Roman empire. To this labarum Prudentius refers, when speaking of the Christian soldiers, in his first hymn περι στεφανων,

Caesaris vexilla linquunt, eligunt SIGNUM CRUCIS,

Proque ventosis Draconum, quae gerebant, palliis,

Proferunt INSIGNE LIGNUM, quod Draconem subdidit.


"They leave the ensigns of Caesar; they choose the standard of the cross; and instead of the dragon flags which they carried, moved about with the wind, they bring forward the illustrious wood that subdued the dragon."

When the apostle saw the woman in heaven, well might he call it, in the spirit of prophecy, a great wonder.


 
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