(14) These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (15) And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. (16) And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. (17) For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. (18) And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
All indeed make war with the Lamb; that is with the Lamb's followers. Both Herod and Pontius Pilate, though in themselves no friends to each other, but when Christ or his people are in view, all the Herods, and all the Pilates of the earth, with the Gentiles and the people of all descriptions of carnal men, are joined together. Everything in the natural mind, unrenewed by grace, is hostile to Christ. But, Reader, observe what is said, the Lamb shall overcome them. Oh! yes! And in Him, and His righteousness; the feeblest of this little army, shall overcome them too.
I cannot refrain from begging my Reader to remark with me, what a blessed and glorious account is given of Christ's Person, and what a lively one of his people. For he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. Yes! blessed forever, thou Almighty God, be thou in thine own eternal nature and essence! Thine own eternal distinctions as one in the Godhead make these titles thine. And by creation, providence, grace; and glory, thou, in common with the Father and the Holy Ghost, hast, and art all. And how sweet is it to the souls of thy people, that by means of their oneness with thee, in that nature of theirs thou hast taken into union with thyself, they that are with thee, are called, and chosen, and faithful. Yes, Lord! by thy calling them with an holy calling, they are proved to have been chosen of God, before the foundation of the world. For whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And by their call in grace, they are made faithful in Christ Jesus. Oh! the unspeakable blessedness of such distinguishing grace! Reader! what saith your heart's testimony to these things? Can you, and do you, take up the sweet language the Holy Ghost by the Apostle teacheth the Church. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. For the Commentary on the 15th and 18th verses (Rev_17:15; Rev_17:18), see the 1st and 2nd, 2 Timothy 1:9.