The Book of Revelation

Chapter 19

The Marriage of the Lamb - Revelation 19:1-10

Revelation 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: [KJV] After this, John hears the sound of a huge crowd in Heaven saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation is from our God. Glory and power is His alone!

“After these things” refers to what happened in chapter 18. A “great voice of much people” is a worship scene. In chapters 5-7 we saw the elders and beasts and an uncounted number of angels worshiping God. Here, we add a vast number of Tribulation saints that raise their voices in praise. What is “praise”?? It is a heartfelt response to God by those who love Him. The more you get to know God and realize what He has done, the more you will respond with praise! Praise is the heart of true worship. Praise of God flows out of you when you realize who He is and how much He loves you. When you praise God for what you have, you are praying for what is yet to be done for us. There will be absolute harmony in Heaven; between the angels and the saints in this victory song.

Revelation 19:2-4 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. [3] And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. [4] And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. [KJV] God's judgments are just and true. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the Earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the murder of His servants." Again and again their voices rang, "Hallelujah! The smoke from that city ascends forever. The twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who sat on the throne. They cried out, "Amen! Hallelujah!"

Many people think God is not true and righteous, but this massive crowd sings that God’s judgments are true and right. If you think God is wrong, it is YOU who are wrong! God is right in ALL His judgments, in the past, now, and in the Great Tribulation. Every horrible plague He brings is brought in fairness and justice. The apostate church (the whore) deserves to be destroyed because it had made martyrs of so many of God’s children and is totally against God. Again, the 24 elders and four beasts fall down and worshiped God. “Hallelujah” they cry! Hallelujah means praise the Lord! It is found just 4 times in the New Testament; all in chapter 19, verses 1,3,4 & 6.

Revelation 19:5-6 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. [6] And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. [KJV] A voice coming from the throne said, "Praise our God, all his servants, from the least to the greatest, all who fear him." Then John again hears what sounded like the shout of a huge crowd, or the roar of mighty ocean waves, or the crash of loud thunder: "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God Almighty, reigns.

The heart of evil is now gone; the whore on the beast, Babylon the great, drunk with the blood of the saints. The King of kings will soon ride onto the scene on His white horse of victory.

Revelation 19:7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. [8] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. [KJV] Let us be glad and rejoice and honor Him. For the time has come for the marriage supper of the Lamb, for His bride has prepared herself. She is allowed to wear the finest white linen." (White represents purity). . . . http://www.hisservants.org/marriage_supper_of_the_lamb_h_s.htm

In the Old Testament it was common for Israel to be called God’s wife or betrothed (Is.54:1-6 etc). In the New Testament the church (those who have trusted and accepted Christ), is called the “bride of Christ.”This includes both men and women. So, you say, “How can a man be a bride?” Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [KJV] God’s people (the bride of Christ) are NOT those who say they are Christians and live sinful lives; but those who are actually living a life that is pleasing to God. Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [KJV] Not everyone who callsJesus Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do right, that is what God the Father in Heaven wants them to do. The “fine linen” represents Christ’s righteousness (1 Cor.1:30) that God applies to us when we accept Christ, but also, it is our righteous living.

Christ is the Bridegroom of His ransomed church. This second union will be completed in Heaven; but the beginning of the glorious millennium (reign of Christ, or a state of happiness, for a thousand years on earth) may be considered as the celebration of His “wife” on earth. The church appears; not in the loud, tacky dress as we saw with the mother of harlots, but in fine linen, clean and white, in the robes of Christ’s righteousness. The Promises of the Gospel, the true sayings of God, opened, applied, and sealed by the Holy Spirit, are the marriage-feast. This probably refers to the abundant grace and consolation Christians will receive in the happy days which absolutely shall come.

Revelation 19:9-10 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. [10] And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. [KJV] And the angel said, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb for these are words that come from God." Then John fell down at his feet to worship him, but the angel said, "No, don't worship me. For I am a servant of God, just like you and others who testify of their faith in Jesus. Worship God. For prophecy is giving a clear witness for Jesus."

The apostle John fell at the feet of the angel to ascribe worship to him. The angel refused it. He plainly told the apostle to worship God, and Him alone. This plainly condemns the worship of the elements of bread and wine, and saints, and angels; and of those who do not believe that Christ is truly and by nature God, yet pay Him a half-hearted form of worship. They stand convicted of idolatry by this messenger from Heaven. These are the true sayings of God; of Him who is to be worshiped, as one with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

The Rider on the White Horse - Revelation 19:11-21

Revelation 19:11-12 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. [12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. [KJV] John now sees Heaven opened, and a white horse. And on the horse sat Him was called Faithful and True, because He judges fairly and then goes to war. His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on His Head were many crowns. A name was written on Him, and only He knew what it meant.

Christ, the glorious Head of the church, is pictured on a “white horse,” the symbol of justice, holiness and victory. Christ is “Faithful” for He has come to carry out the long-time program of God. He will make good all that God has spoken. He is “True” because He is the standard for all Truth! He is in direct contrast to the faithless and deceitful Babylon described in Rev.18. “His eyes were as a flame of fire” means He has come to judge the world, and put down ALL unrighteousness. He has “many crowns,” meaning that He is the sole Ruler (Dictator) of this Earth. “A new Name written, that no man knew, but He Himself” is a puzzle. Could it be that so many today ‘know’ the Name of Jesus, in that they ridicule and blaspheme Him; not really knowing Him? Even many Christians are far too familiar with His Name in that; if they had the proper respect, they would more readily obey Him. To this One on the white horse, we all shall give the proper respect and glory. Jesus appears, this time not as a Lamb, but as a Warrior on a white horse. Jesus came first as a Lamb to be a sacrifice for sin, but when He returns, it will be as a Conqueror and King to execute judgment (2 Thes. 1:7-10). Jesus’ first coming brought forgiveness; His second coming will bring judgment. The battle will be between God and evil, and the King will be victorious. Are you ready for Christ to come?

Revelation 19:13-16 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. [14]And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. [15] And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. [KJV] He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His Name was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in pure white linen, followed Him on white horses. From His mouth came a sharp sword, and with it He struck down the nations. He ruled with an iron rod, and He trod the winepress of the fierce wrath of Almighty God. On His robe and thigh was written this title: King of kings and Lord of lords.

He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood, for He has been treading the “winepress of the wrath of God.” His Name is the “Word of God” (John 1:1,14), a Name no one completely knows but Himself, for His perfections cannot be fully understood by us. The “armies” that follow Him, are most likely legions of angels. “Out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword” (Isaiah 11:4; 2 Thes.2:8, Heb.4:12) by which He will strike down the nations. “He shall rule them with a rod of iron” (Psalm 2:6-9). The fury of His wrath at His Second Coming is sharply contrasted to His meek, gentle nature of His First Coming. He is “King of kings and Lord of lords” for He is nothing less than Almighty God who rules over all!

Revelation 19:17-18 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; [18] That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. [KJV] Then John sees an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the birds flying in the sky: "Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared.Come and eat the flesh of kings, captains, and strong warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great."

God warns people over and over again in His Word of what will come to be. Now, what He has promised in His Word, He is going to inflict on His enemies. His authority and power will make the most powerful enemies submit, for they must fall before Him. The powers of Earth and Hell make their ultimate effort. These verses declare events, foretold by the prophets (Ezekiel 39:17-20). This “great supper of God” is a grim contrast to the wedding supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9). One is a celebration; the other is devastation.

Revelation 19:19-21 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20]And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. [21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. [KJV] Then John saw the beast gathering the kings of the earth and their armies so they could fight against the One sitting on the horse and His army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast; the miracles that deceived all those people who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came out of the mouth of the One riding the white horse. And all the fowls of the sky were filled with the dead bodies.

The battle lines have been drawn. The greatest confrontation in the history of the world is about to begin. The beast (the Antichrist) and the false prophet have gathered the rulers and armies of the entire Earth. The enemy armies think they have come of their own free will, but in reality, God has gathered them to battle, that He might defeat them. Their pride and rebellion have clouded their thinking, that they could possibly go up against God Himself. There is no fight really, because the victory was won when Jesus died on the cross for sin and rose from the dead. The evil leaders are immediately captured and sent to their punishment, and the forces of evil are slaughtered. The fiery lake of burning sulfur is the final destination of the wicked. This lake is different from the Abyss (bottomless pit) referred to in Rev. 9:1. The Antichrist and the false prophet are thrown into this lake of fire (Hell). These persons were not excused because they did what their leaders asked them. The plea of millions of sinners on that great day will go unheard! God has given us His Word as a warning and a Guide. If you choose to follow wrong guides on wrong roads, which most people travel; you must go where the most go, to the burning lake. I distinctly remember several years ago I was bringing a lesson to a class on these very verses. One woman sat across from me in every class. The next week, she was absent (rare). After class I went to see her. These verses had terrified and convicted her. It was only a matter of minutes that she had accepted Christ as her Saviour and Lord. God does work in mysterious ways, for this dear soul passed away very shortly afterwards.

Book of Revelation

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