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1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of
a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation
and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great
prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged
on her the blood of his servants."
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!"
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God,
all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!"
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar
of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding
of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine
linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
Revelation 19:1-8
Explanation:
The identity of this great prostitute is explained in the note on
17:1. A great multitude in heaven initiates the chorus of praise
to God for his victory. Then the 24 elders join the chorus. Finally,
the great choir of heaven once again praises God--the wedding of
the Lamb has come. See Matthew 25:1-13 where Christ compares the
coming of his kingdom to a wedding for which we must be prepared.
This is the culmination of human history--the judgment of the wicked
and the wedding of the Lamb and his bride, the church. The church
consists of all faithful believers from all time. The bride's clothing
stands in sharp contrast to the gaudy clothing of the great prostitute.
The bride's clothing is the righteousness of the saints. These righteous
acts are not religious deeds done by believers to their merit, but
they reflect the work of Christ to save us.
9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: `Blessed are those who
are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added,
"These are the true words of God."
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me,
"Do not do it! 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."
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.
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.
14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses
and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
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.
Revelation 19:9-16
Explanation:
The angel did not accept John's homage and worship because only
God is worthy of worship. Like John, it would be easy for us to
become overwhelmed by this prophetic pageant. But Jesus is the central
focus of God's revelation and his redemptive plan (as announced
by the prophets). As you read the book of Revelation, don't get
bogged down in all the details of the awesome visions; remember
that the overarching theme in all the visions is the ultimate victory
of Jesus Christ over evil. The name "Faithful and True"
contrasts with the faithless and deceitful Babylon described in
chapter 18. John's vision shifts again. Heaven opens and Jesus appears,
this time not as a Lamb, but as a warrior on a white horse (symbolizing
victory). Jesus came first as a Lamb to be a sacrifice for sin,
but he will return as a Conqueror and King to execute judgment (Thessalonians
1:7-10). Jesus' first coming brought forgiveness; his second coming
will bring judgment. The battle lines have been drawn between God
and evil, and the world is waiting for the King to ride onto the
field. Although Jesus is called "Faithful and True", "Word
of God", and "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" this
verse implies that no name can do him justice. He is greater than
any description or expression the human mind can devise. For more
about the symbolism of Jesus' clothes being dipped in blood, see
the note from 7:14. This title indicates our God's sovereignty.
Most of the world is worshiping the beast, the antichrist, whom
they believe has all power and authority. Then suddenly out of heaven
rides Christ and his army of angels--the "King of Kings and
Lord of Lords". His entrance signals the end of the false powers.
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, and mighty
men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free
and slave, small and great."
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 and
his army.
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 horse, and all the birds gorged themselves
on their flesh.
Revelation 19:17-21
Explanation:
This great supper of God is a grim contrast to the wedding supper
of the Lamb. One is a celebration; the other is a devastation. The
beast is identified in the note on 13:1. The battle lines have been
drawn, and the greatest confrontation in the history of the world
is about to begin. The beast and the false prophet have gathered
the governments and armies of the earth under the antichrist's rule.
The enemy armies believe they have come of their own volition; in
reality, God has summoned them to battle in order to defeat them.
That they would even presume to fight against God shows how their
pride and rebellion have perverted their thinking. There really
is no fight, however, because the victory was won when Jesus died
on the cross for sin and rose from the dead. Thus the evil leaders
are immediately captured and sent to their punishment, and the forces
of evil are annihilated. The fiery lake of burning sulfur is the
final destination of the wicked. This lake is different from the
Abyss referred to in 9:1.
The antichrist and the false prophet are thrown into
the fiery lake. Then their leader, Satan himself, will be thrown
into that lake, and finally death and Hades. Afterward, everyone
whose name is not recorded in the book of life will be thrown into
the lake of fire.
