CHAPTER 19

Revelation 19:1-2

1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation, glory and power belongs to our God,

2 for true and just are His judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by all her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of His servants."

In response to the call in chapter 18:20, for the Saints, Apostles and Prophets to rejoice over God’s mercy and justice in destroying the Great City of Babylon, John hears a mighty shout of ‘Alleluia’ (Praise the Lord) coming from a great multitude of those dwelling in Heaven as they join together in a mighty chorus of praise to Almighty God. This is done over and over as they give God the glory, honor, power and praise that is due Him and for His avenging the blood of those who were martyred by the Great Harlot. It is interesting to note that in chapter 18 the friends of Babylon mourned her destruction and here we see God’s people rejoicing over it.

Revelation 19:3-4

3 And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."

4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!"

Here John sees the twenty-four Elders, the four beasts (Cherubims) before God’s Throne shouting “Hallelujah’ as they join in the praise and worship for what God has done, especially in dispensing His true and righteous judgment. They are responding with deep gratitude for the delivering of His people out of the hands of Satan and his Antichrist.

Revelation 19:5

Then a voice came from the throne, saying, ”Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!"

Here another voice comes from the Throne room, this must be an Angel for he is saying to all God’s people, great and small that they are to, ‘Praise our God.’ What a great contrast, we go from the destruction of a World System and the mourning of its inhabitants, to the portals of Heaven, where the multitudes are falling down and worshipping the Creator God.

Revelation 19:6-9

6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of rushing waters and like mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah for the Lord God Omnipotent reigns

7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the Marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready."

8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.

God’s sovereignty brings forth the praise of a great multitude that sounded like rushing water and loud peals of thunder and this mighty voice brings recognition to the Omnipotent, Almighty reign of God. We are told to be glad and rejoice for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb has come. Both the Old and New Testaments present the Marriage institution as a symbol to describe God’s relationship to His people and an analogy of the intimacy of that relationship between the both of them. We are told here that the wife (His Church) has made herself ready and the Bridegroom (Jesus) is about to come and the Marriage of the Lamb (Jesus) is about to consummate in a longed for ‘Rapture., an event for which His Church has patiently waited for and it will bring about the consummation of the Father’s plan from the beginning of time.

So the Church, which is espoused to Jesus by faith, now awaits His coming when He the Heavenly Groom will come for His Bride and take her to His Fathers house in Heaven for the marriage feast which the likes of has never been seen before. John is told by the Angel to write, “Happy are those who are invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” In Matthew 26 we read were Jesus Himself eagerly anticipated the day when He would once again drink of the fruit of the vine with His disciples in His Kingdom. The Angel finishes by saying, “These are the true sayings of God” an assurance to all of us that this will take place, it will happen.

Matthew 26:29

I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father's kingdom."

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Revelation 19:10

At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (the vital breath and inspiration of all inspired prophecy and interpretation of the Divine Will and Purpose)."

Overcome with inexpressible joy, John falls at the feet of the Angel and is told by him not to do that for even though there was a great difference between John (a human) and the Angel, they were both fellow servants of the same Lord and with those who hold to the testimony of Jesus. The Bible teaches us that no created being is to be worshipped and that all the praise and worship belongs to the Father and Son. Any teaching that takes our minds and hearts away from Jesus is not being properly taught and is in error and could be construed as heresy.

Hebrews 1:6

When God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, "Let all God's angels worship Him."

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Revelation 19:11

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war.

This chapter begins the final section of revelation and moves quickly from one scene to another and will describe another seven scenes of judgments, each of which begins with, “I saw.” Here John sees Heaven opened and before him is a rider on a white horse similar to what he saw in chapter 6:2 when he saw the Antichrist going forth to conquer riding on a white horse, but there is no doubt as to who the rider on this horse is. This rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges the nations and makes war on the earth. It is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who is now preparing to take back what Satan stole. He will return to earth to ‘judge and make war,’ to destroy those who have openly rebelled against God and His law of love. Yet even as He destroys the strongholds of Satan, He will do so in righteousness, with love being His only motive, and while the wicked try to hide from His presence; His Saints (we His people) who have looked for this moment are riding with Him with unbridled joy.

Revelation 19:12-13

12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself.

13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.

Once again John is describing God’s Son as he did in chapter one. The last time the people on earth saw Jesus He was wearing a crown of thorns and was hanging on a cruel cross; not any more! Now, He is seen riding to victory on a beautiful white horse and on His head are many crowns, crowns of royalty and authority, for He is the only King of kings and Lord of lords. His eyes are as blazing fire, His robs dipped in blood, it is debated as to whether this is His own blood, blood of the Saints, or the blood of His enemies, either one of these is possible, the important thing is this picture being described of the Victorious Lord at the head of His army, God’s people. His name is called, ‘The Word of God’ this is the two edged sword we have previously read about that is depicted as coming out of His mouth, a very dramatic way of referring to the power of His Word.

In this chapter Christ is identified by three different names, each one symbolizing a different aspect of His character.

The first; ‘Faithful and True,’ this has to do with His divine nature and which never changes.

The second; ‘The Word of God,’ eternal, infallible, powerful and the perfect expression of the thoughts and will of God.

The third; ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords,’ explicitly, accurately, clearly presenting Him as fully God, worthy of all worship and praise.

Revelation 19:14-15

The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

Once again, this army is made up of His faithful people from all ages and the clothes they are wearing, fine and white, symbolizes righteousness, but it is not earned by them it is imputed, given to them because of the death of Christ in their behalf.

Revelation 19:15-16

15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the Wrath of God Almighty.

16 On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Jesus Christ conquers the forces of evil by the power of His Word, symbolized as a sword coming out of His mouth by which He will strike the nations of the world. He is coming to rule the nations with a rod of iron, a scepter of authority, given to Him by His Heavenly Father. He will also dispense the fury of God’s wrath as He treads God’s winepress. On His robe is written His royal title ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords.’

Psalm 2:8-9

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You will rule them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Revelation 2:16

Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

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Revelation 19:17-18

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,

18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great."

Here John sees an Angel commanding all the scavenger birds of the air to come to the ‘Great Supper of God,’ for a feast such as they have ever known before. There are four different suppers mentioned in the Bible - 1) Supper of Salvation – Luke 14:15-24 - 2) The Lord’s Supper (Matt 26:26-29; Luke 22:14-23; 1Cor 11:23-26) - 3) The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9) – 4) The Great Supper of God – (Rev. 19:17).

This is worth noting, if you are not present at the first supper you will most certainly be present at the fourth. At the first supper you will dine with the Lord Himself but at the fourth supper you will be the one that is eaten by the scavenger birds of the air. The Angel announces that all of mankind that are still alive at this time will be there at the fourth supper, the Great Supper of God, Kings, Captains, mighty men, horse and rider, and all men, free or slave, small and great. Mankind has walked in hate filled enmity toward God, living only to satisfy the flesh, but now God’s patience has ended and the flesh will reap its reward. All those who refused God’s gracious invitation to supper with Him in Heaven will be among those devoured by the scavengers of the air when Jesus returns.

Galatians 6:7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, he shall also reap.

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Revelation 19:19

Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse (Jesus) and His army (the Saints).

This third judgment scene pictures the entire satanic host, Satan, the Antichrist, the false Prophet and the Kings (rulers) of all the nations with their armies gathering together to make war against Him who sits on the white horse (Jesus) and against the army (His saints) that is with Him. Man with his lack of understanding and in his foolishness due to his hatred for God is actually going to make war with God in a futile, irrational attempt to defeat Him, an action that can only end in utter defeat and disaster.

Revelation 19:20-21

20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the white horse (Jesus), and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

John has said nothing about a battle because it looks like a completely one-sided affair whereby God’s judgment is pronounced against the Beast (Antichrist) and the False Prophet who by his satanic miracles deceived all those who received the Mark of the Beast (666) and worshipped his image. God deals directly with these two and takes them both and throws them alive into the Lake of Fire. This is called the Second Death, a very literal and real place that has been reserved for Satan and his followers. Those remaining were killed by the rider that sat upon the white horse (Jesus) and the fowls (scavenging birds) of the air feasted on their flesh, this is the Great Supper of God spoken of in verses 17 & 18.

This is the last step in the decline of the Antichrist, when he in reaction to the super-natural judgments which have brought about the collapse of his One World Government, he summons all the rulers of the nations and their armies to wage a futile war against Christ Himself. Instead of fighting a war he and the False Prophet are captured by Jesus and cast into the Lake of Fire and the rest of his army is destroyed.