Revelation Chapter 19 – Charles

 

Brief introduction...

 

We now come to the most exciting part of the book of Revelation. 

 

In chapter 19 we turn the page to that which marks a drastic change in tone of the book of Revelation. 

 

The destruction of Babylon, the capital of the Beast's kingdom marked the end of the Great Tribulation. 

The sombre gives way to glorious song. 

The transfer is from darkness to light, from dreary days of judgement to bright days of blessing. 

 

This chapter ushers in the greatest event for planet earth... the second coming of Christ to establish His Kingdom.

 

This chapter is the bridge between the Great Tribulation and the Millennial kingdom. 

Great and significant events are recorded here.

 

The two central features...

□  the Marriage of the Lamb and

□  the return of Christ to the earth. 

 

Hallelujahs open the chapter...

The opening of Hell closes the chapter.

 

And... two great suppers are recorded in this chapter... the Marriage supper of the Lamb and the cannibalistic feast of dead or dying flesh after the last part of Armageddon. 

 

And let's not forget... that this is where Christ the Messiah comes for and saves His beloved nation Israel from the nations of the world that want to totally annihilate her.

 

At long last the Lord Jesus Christ reigns as King of Israel.

 

                                       ************

 

☆ Revelation 19:1...

"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Hallelujah; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:"

 

As chapter 19 opens... the voices of heaven become one chorus... what I call the "Hallelujah chorus."

 

"And after these things"... we now see what takes place after the Great Tribulation...

Most importantly the coming of Christ to earth is recorded in this chapter.

 

"... a great voice of much people in heaven..."

In the worship scenes of chapters 4-5... we saw the 4 creatures, 24 Elders, the Church, myriads of angels and created intelligences all worshipping God.

 

Here we have a great number of Tribulation saints added to the chorus. 

 

This is the first time they have been able to utter the great note of praise of the Old Testament... HALLELUJAH! 

This word occurs only 4 times in the New Testament in the first 6 verses of this chapter in Revelation.

 

It is reserved for the final victory. 

 

Hallelujah occurs frequently in the book of Psalms... it means... PRAISE THE LORD!

 

Hallelujah is a fitting word at this point in Revelation... the Tribulation is over... the Church is to be united with Christ in marriage... Christ is coming again to earth... and the Beast and False prophet are to be cast into the Lake of Fire forever.

 

Hallelujah is an exclamation of praise... as the [final phase of salvation] is coming to pass!

 

Paul said something about this in ☆ Romans 8:18-23 (TLB)...

 

"Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will give us later. For all creation is waiting patiently and hopefully for that future day when God will resurrect His children. For on that day thorns and thistles, sin, death, and decay—the things that overcame the world against its will at God’s command—will all disappear, and the world around us will share in the glorious freedom from sin which God’s children enjoy. For we know that even the things of nature, like animals and plants, suffer in sickness and death as they await this great event. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as His children, including the new bodies He has promised us—bodies that will never be sick again and will never die."

 

With sin, any sin, there are always serious consequences. 

 

This is that great day which is coming where the earth will be finally released from the bondage of sin. 

 

☆ Revelation 19:2-4...

"For true and righteous are His judgements: for He has judged the great Whore, which did corrupt the earth with Her fornication, and has avenged the blood of His servants at Her hand.

And again they said, Hallelujah.

And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah."

 

Interestingly, at the conclusion of all the judgements on the earth, those in heaven who by the way have a more perfect knowledge, are able to say... "... true and righteous are His (God's) judgements... "

 

God will be perfectly right in judging the great Harlot... in His way.

 

In a sense this is interesting, because when we read about the judgement of this harlot representing the apostate church which went into the Tribulation... it says the kings and the Beast destroyed the great harlot. 

And yet, we are told that it was God Who judged it.

 

God uses different instruments and surprisingly will even use the Devil to accomplish His purposes.

Those in heaven are saying "true and righteous are His judgements..." because the apostate church deserved to be destroyed... it had made martyrs of many, many of God's children.

 

In these verses we hear the Church (represented by the Elders) saying... HALLELUJAH! And they say it twice. Why?

 

As long as the imposter (the great Harlot) of the true Church is on the earth... the Marriage of the Lamb will not take place in heaven.

The anti-church is disposed of first... which... makes way for the Marriage of the Lamb. 

 

"... has avenged the blood of His servants at her hand."

God has avenged!

Believers are forbidden to avenge themselves.

 

☆ Romans 12:19...

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord."

 

God will take care of vengeance for you. His judgements are always righteous judgements.

And... God did bring judgement on this corrupt, wicked, apostate system.

 

The 24 Elders for the first time say HALLELUJAH!

The Elders... we believe represent the Church.

This is the last time we see the Elders as such.

 

The figures change now... the Church is to become the wife of Christ. 

 

The word "church" means "called out" ones.

Here on earth we are the Church, the "called out" ones... 

After we leave the earth we are the Bride... to become His wife.

 

☆ Revelation 19:5-6...

"And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you His servants, and you that fear Him, both small and great.

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, Hallelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns."

 

"And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God... "

 

The call to praise comes from the throne of God, because Christ is preparing to take control of this world... that is, His Millennial reign.

 

This takes us back to the covenant (which is a promise, an oath) that God made with King David in which He promised He would raise One upon David's throne Who would rule the world. God had chosen the dynasty of David as the means of bringing the Messiah.

 

☆ Psalm 89:3-4...

"I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn unto David My servant, Your seed will I establish for ever, and build up your throne to all generations."

 

"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, Hallelujah!"

 

You could say this is the true "Hallelujah Chorus," and it is going to be the most profound anthem of praise in the entire Word of God.

Heaven's "Hallelujah Chorus" is going to make Handel's version sound like a Kindy Sunday School chorus.

 

However before Christ Jesus returns to the earth the second time, there's going to be the Marriage of the Lamb in Heaven that you and I, the believers, will be a part of.

 

This will be the most awesome experience the believers will ever partake in... it's going to be one heavenly Marriage feast.

 

☆ 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 has made herself ready.

And to her was granted (given) that she should be arrayed (clothed) in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

 

The Church, that is the body of believers, all the way from Pentecost to the Rapture, will be presented to Christ (the Lamb) now as a bride for marriage.

This marriage will take place in Heaven.

 

In Ephesians chapter 5, the Apostle Paul tells us something about Christ and the Church. 

I'll let the Word of God speak for itself on this issue. 

 

☆ Ephesians 5:25-27...

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;

That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,

That He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

 

This is the picture of Christ's beautiful relationship with His Church.

Notice the condition of the Church... she is without spot, wrinkle or blemish... She is holy. 

 

And also note who is responsible for her condition... "... has made herself ready."

 

What does this say about how our walk with God ought to be?

 

☆ 1 Peter 1:15...

"But as He which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation."

 

And... note...

The Bride has become the wife... the Bridegroom has become the husband. 

 

This passage of Scripture is a picture of that day when Christ draws us to Himself cleansed and purified.

 

"... for the Marriage of the Lamb is come... " 

Marriage is a wonderful depiction of the joining together of Christ and the Church.

Christ's loving relationship with His Church is the ultimate example to mankind for how a marriage should be.

 

The Church... or the Bride... is involved in a unique relationship with Christ.

You see, Christ loved the Church so much He gave Himself for it.

Christ's love (agape) for us is totally out of this world... it's a sacrificial love, an unconditional love, a redemptive love, a restorative love, an adoptive love, a compassionate love, a saving love, an everlasting love and... an all embracing love.

 

Remember His high priestly prayer in the Gospel of John...?

 

☆ John 17:23-26...

"I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me.

Father, I will that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me: for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

O righteous Father, the world has not known You: but I have known You, and these have known that You have sent Me.

And I have declared unto them Your name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

 

What is so wonderful is that we are going to know Christ... really know Him... for the first time.

 

"And to her was granted (given) that she should be arrayed (clothed) in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

 

It is impossible to stand before Christ in our own righteousness. Our righteousness... our self righteousness is as filthy rags in God's eyes.

 

☆ Philippians 3:9...

"And be found in Him (in Christ), not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith..."

 

By faith we can trust Christ for the forgiveness of sins AND... for the impartation to us of His own righteousness. 

 

☆ Ephesians 5:27...

"That He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

 

We will be on display.

Sinners saved from Hell... in Heaven now.

We are there...

□ because of Christ's finished work of the Cross...

□ because of Christ's imputed (credited) righteousness and...

□  because we belong to Him.

 

The relationship between Christ and the Church is intimate, it is different and delightful.

No other creature on earth will enjoy such sweetness. 

Hallelujah! 

 

☆ Revelation 19:9-10...

"And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the Marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See you do it not: I am your fellowservant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

 

Please take careful note of this next bit of interesting information. 

The Marriage of the Lamb will take place in Heaven.

The Marriage supper however, will take place on the earth.

 

The picture of this is found in ☆ Matthew 25:1-13... the parable of the ten virgins.

The virgins were not the Bride. Christ only had one Bride... the Church.

 

The Bridegroom will return to the earth for the marriage supper. 

Christ not only returns to judge the earth but also to have the marriage supper... which the ten virgins expect to attend. 

 

The Marriage supper of the Lamb and His Bride will occur on the earth during the Millennial reign of Christ. 

 

Jesus frequently compared His Millennial reign to a wedding feast.

Read... ☆ Matthew 8:12, ☆ Matthew 22:1-14, ☆ Luke 14:16-24.

 

Both Israelites and Gentiles who enter the Millennium are the invited guests.

 

The angel puts God's seal on this scene with... "These are the true sayings of God."

 

After seeing and writing this, the Apostle John is so overwhelmed that he feels compelled to worship this "angelic messenger."

He is stopped from doing so and told to... "Worship God alone."

This "being" interestingly tells John that he is a "fellowservant and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus."

 

So... was he an angelic being?

Or was he a saint already in Heaven?

Fellowservant?

Of your brethren? 

Have the testimony of Jesus?

 

I personally think it was the latter.

This to me is proof that when a Christian dies, they immediately go to heaven to be with the Lord... 

 

"... for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

Another very interesting phrase...

The very essence, the very substance of Biblical prophecy must, should always centre around Jesus. 

I strongly believe that prophecy always points to Christ... 

It ultimately should focus on Christ and His finished work on the Cross. 

 

Even a prophetic word spoken over a person should always direct that person to a closer and deeper walk with the Lord Jesus Christ... 

 

And next... the moment every Christian throughout the Church age has been waiting and praying for...

This is the great climactic event towards which all things in this world are moving today. 

And what a glorious scene it will be...

 

☆ 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 does judge and make war.

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."

 

Here comes Jesus to planet earth... again... not as a meek and mild babe in a manger... nor as the suffering Saviour of the world.

 

This time the heavens burst open and Jesus appears on a white stallion with the titles of Faithful and True... the Word of God...

 

Jesus comes this time as the victorious King of kings and Lord of lords. 

This time, Christ Jesus comes in righteousness to judge the earth and... to make war.

His coming will be the final display of the wrath of God upon a sinful world.

 

Chapters 4-18 deal with a very, very dark period of time on the earth... the Great Tribulation.

It ends here with the glorious coming of Christ to establish His Kingdom.

 

In chapter 4 heaven opened to let John in... to see future events.

Here in chapter 19... the heavens open to let Christ exit onto the earth. 

The horse Christ is riding is an animal of warfare.

When Jesus was on the earth the first time, he rode a donkey into Jerusalem. The donkey denotes peace not war.

 

Jesus is called "faithful"... because He comes to execute the long-time program of God.

He has made good His promise of coming again. He is the only One you can trust and rest upon.

 

Jesus is called "true"... because that is Who He is... the truth!

How wonderful it is to know that He is TRUTH in a world that is constantly changing, is very deceitful, is full of uncertainty and is full of wicked and hidden agendas.

 

He is come to "judge and make war"... He is come to set the record straight... to finally put down all wickedness. 

 

"His eyes were as a flame of fire..." He has come to judge the earth and put down all unrighteousness. 

He sees all. He knows all. He will deal with all.

 

"... and on His head were many crowns"... indicates that He will be the sole ruler on this earth. 

These crowns are not the 'stephanos' [symbol of honour] crown... but the 'diadema' [kingly] crown.

 

Indeed, He is King of kings and Lord of lords. 

 

"... and He had a Name written, that no man knew, but He Himself."

?? Lord, Saviour, Master, Rabbi, Prophet, Priest, King, Bread of Life, the True Vine, Living Water, Prince of Peace, Counsellor, Mighty God, Emmanuel... He has a Name that is above all names!

 

Christ is given 4 names that correspond to the Gospels...

□ "King of kings"... corresponds to the Gospel of Matthew since Matthew presents Christ as King.

 

□ "Faithful and true"... corresponds to the Gospel of Mark... because Mark presents Christ as the Servant of God. 

 

□ "The Word of God"... corresponds to the Gospel of John...  for obvious reasons... Jesus is declared as being the Word of God. 

 

□  The Gospel of Luke presents Christ as "The Son of man."

 

The Name that nobody knows.  A possibility?

 

Whatever that unknown Name is, it is something very special... because Jesus is someone so very special.

There is a loveliness and beauty about Him that places Him head and shoulders above all else.

 

Any ideas or thoughts??

 

No-one knows the Son but the Father. Jesus is so wonderful that it will take the rest of eternity to know Him.

 

At this present time... now... right here... I know that I want to know Him better. I want more of Jesus.

 

I love Paul's prayer that He prayed for the Ephesian Church... it's my prayer for you and for me...

 

☆ Ephesians 1:17-19...

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (i.e. to know Jesus better)... 

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."

 

We now go to a further more detailed description of Jesus on this white horse. I know now, that the first horseman that was revealed (chapter 6) when the first seal was opened... definitely was not Christ. 

 

☆ Revelation 19:13-16...

"And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.

And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

And He had on His vesture and on His thigh a name written,

KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

 

"He was clothed with a vesture (garment) dipped (sprinkled) in blood..." reminds us that Christ at His first coming, was sacrificed for the salvation of mankind. Jesus was the Lamb of God that shed His precious blood for the forgiveness of sins.  

 

"His name is called The Word of God"... echoes what is written in the Gospel of John...

 

☆ John 1:1...

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Jesus is the Word of God.

 

"And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."

 

Who or what is this army with Christ? 

The clue given is that they were "clothed in fine linen, white and clean."

Remember verse 8?  "... for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

The army with Christ are His saints... you and I.

 

The prophet Zechariah adds weight to this...

 

☆ Zechariah 14:5...

"And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yes, you shall flee, like as you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with Him."

 

Jesus' second coming happens in two phases. 

Phase one... at the Rapture Christ comes for His saints. 

Phase two... Jesus comes with His saints.

 

"And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron..."

 

Jesus is the Word of God. Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword...

With this sharp sword He will smite (slay, strike or cut down) the nations.

Jesus will defeat the nations with the power and might of His Word.

Difficult to grasp? 

 

Think about it...

It was by His Word that the whole of creation came into being. 

By His Word He can do the opposite.

 

☆ Isaiah 55:12...

"So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

 

"He shall rule them with a rod of iron..." 

 

The Lord of Glory will not allow or tolerate any thing, person or nation to rebel, kill, destroy or cause chaos at this point in time.

In fact He is about to put down all wickedness, evil and rebellion.

He will rule with an "iron fist" so to speak... but in righteousness, justice and mercy will He rule. 

 

"... for the Lord God omnipotent reigns"...

 

Omnipotent = absolute and universal sovereign... HALLELUJAH! 

 

☆ Psalm 2:6-9...

"Yet have I set My king upon My holy hill of Zion.  

I will declare the decree: the LORD has said unto Me, You are My Son; this day have I begotten You. 

Ask of Me, and I shall give You the heathen for Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession.

You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

 

"He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."

 

The fierce wrath of God against sinners is compared to a winepress. The wicked antichristian party are likened to clusters of grapes... who being ripe for destruction, are cast into it, and pressed, squeezed, and trodden down by the mighty power of Christ, the Word of God, whose vesture before was said to be dipped in blood.

 

The title "King of kings and Lord of lords.." is written on His thigh and vesture.

Jesus owns this title. That's Him! He is it!

He comes with this title blazened on His person.

 

At His first advent, the Romans mockingly wrote "King of the Jews" above His head on the Cross. 

 

☆ Matthew 27:29...

"And when they (Roman soldiers) had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!"

 

I would not want to be in their Roman shoes on judgement day.

 

☆ Philippians 2:9-11...

"Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him (Jesus), and given Him a Name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

 

☆ 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;

That you 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."

 

Clean up time has arrived. Literally!

 

We come to the end of the war of Armageddon.

This will conclude the final battle.

 

An angel standing in the sun (he is very brightly illuminated)... calls out with a loud voice... gathering together all birds that fly to the supper of the great God. 

If there's a passage of Scripture that is disgusting and nauseating to read... this would have to be it! 

 

God included it at the end of His Word to remind us how revolting and nauseating to Him are the deeds of the flesh.

Men who live in the flesh will have their flesh destroyed.

 

This is an invitation at the end of the battle of Armageddon to all carrion (flesh eating birds) to a banquet on earth where they will eat the flesh of kings and mighty men of the earth. 

 

This scene shows the utter depravity and wickedness of man and how dreadful his heart is.

 

☆ 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.

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.

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."

 

For the very first time... Hell is completely opened up.

 

This is one very scary picture... scene...

The Beast and the False prophet defy God to the very end.

They dare to make war against the Son of God!

It is laughable that mankind is so rebellious toward God because there can only be one outcome... and that outcome favours God.

These two arch-fiends are the first two to be cast live and unceremoniously into the lake of fire... burning with brimstone.

 

The rest were slain with the "sword" of Him that sat upon the horse. 

 

"The remnant was slain with the sword which proceeded out of His mouth..."

 

Now that's one very powerful sword to be able to do that.

And... what sword is that? 

His Word is that SWORD!

And how powerful is that sword?

 

☆ Hebrews 4:12...

"For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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."

 

☆ Ephesians 6:17...

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."

 

☆ Isaiah 11:4...

"But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked."

 

Notice how this symbol is clearly explained by Scripture? 

 

The sword coming out of Christ's mouth is the Word.

It was the Word that created the universe.

It is the Word that saves us.

It is the Word of God that is going destroy the wicked at the end of the age.

 

Hallelujah!

And the winner is... JESUS!