John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And the third angel followed them , etc.] The two preceding ones, and that very quickly; by whom is meant not Luther, and his associates in the Reformation, as some think; nor his successors, or the ministers of the Gospel in general from his time till Christ's second coming, as others have thought; but a set of Gospel ministers in the spiritual reign of Christ: the first set of them publish the everlasting Gospel, which leads on to the ruin of antichrist; the second set proclaim the downfall of Rome, and this third set denounce the wrath of God upon all that have professed the Popish religion: saying with a loud voice ; as the first angel did, with like authority and vehemence, in order to strike terror, and express indignation: if any man worship the beast and his image ; give in to the idolatries of the church of Rome, and embrace, maintain, and defend the Popish religion, which bears a resemblance to the worship of the Heathens, and is the very image of Rome Pagan; (see Revelation 13:4,12,15) and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand ; openly profess Popery, and swear allegiance to the man of sin, and do all they can to support his interest; (see Revelation 13:16,17).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-13 - The progress of the Reformation appears to be here set forth. The fou proclamations are plain in their meaning; that all Christians may be encouraged, in the time of trial, to be faithful to their Lord. The gospel is the great means whereby men are brought to fear God, and to give glory to him. The preaching of the everlasting gospel shakes the foundations of antichrist in the world, and hastens its downfall. If an persist in being subject to the beast, and in promoting his cause, the must expect to be for ever miserable in soul and body. The believer is to venture or suffer any thing in obeying the commandments of God, an professing the faith of Jesus. May God bestow this patience upon us Observe the description of those that are and shall be blessed: such a die in the Lord; die in the cause of Christ, in a state of union with Christ; such as are found in Christ when death comes. They rest from all sin, temptation, sorrow, and persecution; for there the wicke cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest. Their works follo them: do not go before as their title, or purchase, but follow them a proofs of their having lived and died in the Lord: the remembrance of them will be pleasant, and the reward far above all their services an sufferings. This is made sure by the testimony of the Spirit witnessing with their spirits, and the written word.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ τριτος 5154 A-NSM αγγελος 32 N-NSM ηκολουθησεν 190 5656 V-AAI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM λεγων 3004 5723 V-PAP-NSM εν 1722 PREP φωνη 5456 N-DSF μεγαλη 3173 A-DSF ει 1487 COND τις 5100 X-NSM το 3588 T-ASN θηριον 2342 N-ASN προσκυνει 4352 5719 V-PAI-3S και 2532 CONJ την 3588 T-ASF εικονα 1504 N-ASF αυτου 846 P-GSN και 2532 CONJ λαμβανει 2983 5719 V-PAI-3S χαραγμα 5480 N-ASN επι 1909 PREP του 3588 T-GSN μετωπου 3359 N-GSN αυτου 846 P-GSM η 2228 PRT επι 1909 PREP την 3588 T-ASF χειρα 5495 N-ASF αυτου 846 P-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. The third angel (tritov aggelov). Add allov another. Rev., another angel, a third.
