Now there was nothing more repulsive and fatal to paganism in every form than the truth revealed in Christ, which exposed every thing that was not itself not the truth, definite and exclusive. And I fell down before his feet to worship him; and he said to me: "See that you do not do this. After a thousand years then they will be joined by Satan and the rest of the satanic beings or the angelic beings that joined with Satan in his rebellion against God. The church is the bride, "And he that spoke with me had a golden reed as a measure, that he might measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. The bride represents those that are spoken of in the normal possession and enjoyment of their privileges. After that we have the admonitions to the end of this book. occasion and the downfall of Rome, is said to be "great" partly because of their He knows Creature lights are gone. Further, a negative point of great importance is presented by the seer, "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty is the temple of it, and the Lamb. Moral elements too were not wanting: the mystery of lawlessness had long been at work, though the enemy had not yet brought in the apostacy, and still less the manifestation of the lawless one. "Come," he said, "assemble for the great feast which God will give you, 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 those who ride them, and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, both small and great.". Here are two further pictures of the warrior Christ. Their praise is that the smoke of Babylon rises for ever and ever. approving of the destruction of Babel, because the Messiah was bringing justice From his mouth . 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 ( Revelation 19:7 ). The marriage symbolism runs all through the Gospels. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. "All three of the figures in this verse are representations of the word of Christ, by which he executes with indisputable authority the judgment of God. It is plain that they are not in this city. To us, as His soldiers, Christ says "As My Father has sent Me so send I you." For there follows another company of martyrs who suffered when the beast set up his worst and final pretensions. If not blessing it judges. Supposing, for instance, a drunken father: if the sons had one spark of right feeling, not only must they feel the utmost shame and pain on account of their parent, but they would endeavour (like the sons of Noah who had a due sense of what was proper to their father) to cast some mantle of love over that which they could not deny, yet would not look at, but surely above all things they would watch against that shameful sin. Revelation 18:1-24 need not delay us long. the wilderness, the High Priest wore a very ornamented robe with a breastplate News Links, Recommended Books, News Sites, and Bibles The one therefore throws much light upon the other. And I saw the beast [that is the antichrist], and the kings of the earth [which have been drawn by the demonic forces], and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army ( Revelation 19:18-19 ). Isaiah 63:3. In two Old Testament stories, the wrestling of Jacob at Peniel ( Genesis 32:29), and the appearance of the angelic messenger to Gideon ( Judges 13:18) the divine visitor refuses to tell his name. the holy city Jerusalem. Jewish dreams were full of the warrior Messiah, who would lead God's people to victory and smash his enemies. The very reverse is the undeniable fact. Jesus descends majestically to judge in righteousness and rule in power. Here I am obliged to say that our authorized version, and not merely it, but our common Greek Testaments, are altogether wrong. The pronoun he is emphaticHe Himself, by Himself, as is there expressed. Consequently there will be an increase in population such as never has been approached since the world was made, yet it afterwards appears, that Satan will not fail to turn the masses of the nations into one vast rebellion against the objects of God's special favour on the earth the saints wherever they may be, and the beloved city of Israel, as we have seen. here. "And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, that hath kingship over the kings of the earth." The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. Biblical references. The wrath of God is fierce! 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. Commentary on Revelation 19:11-21. I do not, of course, complain of particular persons, but of the general vagueness in which the passage has been taken unless, indeed, the more common course be not to ignore it. white, represents the righteousness of the church, which has now been judged and being addressed here to add to the other 3 mentioned groups. That is something that God will never have to do, apologize. It will help to show us that, whatever may have been the past conditions of Babylon, there is a future one; and it is in that future one that Babylon is to perish. Called: Those who are invited to the marriage supper are Israel, who will turn This disposes of many a web of comments; for we find at once what is perfectly simple, what any child of God who believes this to be the word of God must own. Acts 10:25-26). The people mentioned here are distinct from the other beings in heaven, This remains true. The fall of Babylon being fixed, finished, and declared to be irrecoverable in the foregoing chapter, this begins with a holy triumph over her, in pursuance of the order given forth: Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets,Rev. rather than differing reality. And a voice came from the throne = is not explicitly identified. of the world mean nothing to God. Of course the application to the Roman empire would be immediately in the mind of any Christian at Rome. There we interpreted as "CHRIST EVANGELISING". This brings in idolatry, real shameless idolatry too, not merely that subtle working of the idolatrous spirit that every Christian has to guard against. Choose a verse from 'Revelation 19' to begin your 'Verse-by-Verse' study of God's Word using the more than 100 commentaries available on StudyLight.org. and the fullness of the Gentiles will be brought in. Thus nothing can be simpler or more beautiful than the way in which this verse sums up the Revelation as a whole. (19:6-9), are evidence of the Church being in heaven prior to the return of Calling is the, fruit of active grace on God's part towards man, and only towards him when fallen. But in this is shown what it is of importance to see the true nature of the kingdom or millennial reign. "Let him that heareth," then, "say, Come." Since then the world has not seen the imperial power to which all bow. And John heard it as the voice of many waters or rushing waters and the voice of mighty thunderings.Glory. He is, as H. B. Swete puts it, "a royal commander followed by a dazzling retinue." "Praise our God," says the voice, "all you his servants, you who fear him." Exactly the same thing is repeated here, and what makes it more apparent is the similarity of the introduction on each occasion. I admit that afterwards no doubt the new heaven and the new earth are seen; but who contends that this is the sphere to which the Lord comes? is a myth. It should be, "and shall be present. on Line Thus such as were in the separate state were reunited to their bodies, and lived and reigned like those who were already on the thrones. There are not enough adjectives in the dictionary Then go into each of the twenty two chapters of the Book of Revelation one by one. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for night shall not be there. From the manner in which resurrection is referred to in scripture, does not God leave room for this? And it is the various ways by which men are attempting to reach God. would be no salvation. Revelation 19:9 "And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are 19:2 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. It is not complicated, just bare all to God. wedding garment ready for the wedding. He destroys the assembled rebels who have gathered together against Him. inhabitants of the Roman empire into wicked and idolatrous practices, and so Verse By Verse Acts Through Revelation can be taken as capably as picked to act. 12:10; A mighty angel takes a stone and says, when he cast it into the sea, "Thus with violence shall be thrown down Babylon the great city, and shall be found no more at all." There was no doubt at all of the character of the emperor; there never had been a worse than he; yet God took that very opportunity to lay this on the Christians as their duty to the worldly authority outside and over them. . We have already met this description in Revelation 1:14 and Revelation 2:18. It was, as H. B. Swete puts it, like "the din of a vast concourse, the roar of a cataract, the roll of thunder.". Nobody can dispute that this remarkable cluster of kingdoms in Europe was the fruit providentially of the destroyed unity of the Roman empire when the barbarians invaded it. This, was no lack. That is the way in which H. B. Swete takes it. true sayings of God.". avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.". "Your Maker is your husband; the Lord of hosts is his name," says Isaiah ( Isaiah 54:5). 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; In Daniel's time, and even to Daniel himself, the book was sealed. Nor is there any real reason to wonder at their deriving help from partial light. That is religion. 19 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. No sooner was the marriage solemnized between Christ and his church by the conversion of the Jews than the glorious head and husband of the church is called out to a new expedition, which seems to be the great battle that was to be fought at Armageddon, foretold Rev. Return "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book." It is not what Christ puts on them, but a recognition even at this time of whatever has been of God the working I do not deny of the Spirit of Christ. Those that do rise at the same time rise, no doubt, in a moment; but that there are to be various acts of resurrection is not only not contrary to scripture, but required by its own descriptions. supper of the Lamb represents the millennial kingdom of Christ, which will take The Church, the Bride of Christ, is clothed in fine linen, pure and shining. believers at salvation, but the practical results of that righteousness in The return of Christ to earth 19:11-16. This is the meaning of "one hour with the beast.". And the beast was taken" (taken alive), "and with him the false prophet that wrought signs in his presence, with which he deceived those that received the mark of the beast, and those that worshipped his image." THE ALMIGHTY AND HIS KINGDOM ( Revelation 19:6-8 continued). Ruling includes destroying as well as reigning over (Psalms 2:9). The word used here for crown is diadema ( G1238) , which is the royal crown, as opposed to stephanos ( G4735) which is the crown of victory. It is not his own blood, but the blood of his enemies that he tramples as he tramples out the rebellious. She followed and had inherited the spirit of all, from the days of Cain, who had lifted up their hands against their righteous brethren. It was the religious leaders that prompted the persecution against the church in its beginning and throughout history.There is even at the present time, one of the leaders of the YWAM program who has been charged in Greece with a charge of proselytizing, because he gave a Bible to a Greek sixteen-year old boy, and he has been charged in the Greek courts with proselytizing. 11:25-27). Verse 2. "[48] No "battle" of any kind takes place here. Revelation 19:5 "And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all Beyond controversy, however, it is a most unusual and abnormal reappearance, which is altogether exceptional in the history of the world. by His sacrificial blood. And there are times when the angel appears to John. Jesus speaks of many coming from the east and the west and sitting down with the patriarchs in the kingdom of heaven ( Matthew 8:11). ", This chapter is one of the most dramatic in all the Bible. 16:17+).Even though judgment is said to be complete at the pouring of the final bowl, we saw that several more chapters were still ahead before the kingdom of God . What confusion! Such was her influence stretching out far beyond the beast. This is of immense moment doctrinally, because it decisively proves that it is altogether unfounded to assume, as is popularly done, that the Lord only returns at this juncture. They begin to admire the instrument. The same was in the beginning with God. 22:2-14; John 3:29; 2 Cor. "Hallelujah!" Babylon symbolized by its capital city of Babylon. John goes out of his way to heap up similes to describe its sound. (i) He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, not his own but that of his enemies. Revelation 19:1. Pilate said, "I find no fault in Him. But a very different point of interest is to be observed. God. On the one hand, the return of Jesus Christ to the earth is the climax of all that has gone before in Revelation. for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy ( Revelation 19:10 ). These compose the third class here spoken of. But far from that he has, on the contrary, persevered in the same evil course, as badly or worse than his father. Chapter 19 of Revelation is the only place in the Bible that this name describing God is used. "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many diadems." The gospel had been preached there, as she of Chaldea was not without law and prophet. But a voice issues from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 4:6). Had he really penetrated under the surface, and seen that beneath the fair guise of Christendom the woman was, of all things under the sun, the most corrupt and hateful to God, it would not be so much to be surprised at. But "nations of them which are saved," is a most anomalous expression, and betrays man as the author of it. The New Testament is the "last will and testament" of Jesus, and to I like that, God speaking into existence the world in which we live. The word that goes forth out of His mouth. used (in Gen. 19:28). The marriage between Christ and the church proclaimed and perfected, ver 5-10. * Let us be glad and exult, and give the glory to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." At first reading, to some this sounds harsh, but it is referring to His ability to proect his sheep. Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.". This is not unrighteous, but, on the contrary, the highest justice from a divine point of view. elaborate than those of today. So for the most part in the book of Revelation, there will be the angel speaking to John and revealing to him the things that were being revealed to him by Jesus Christ. So, it is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that is imparted to me through my faith in Jesus Christ. Holding on to what others knew before them, or little more, they reduce themselves to a minimum of the truth. It probably came to be so well known to even the simplest member of the Church through its special use as a response of praise in the Easter worship. Her part in the corruption of the high and the intoxication of the low her idolatrous character has come before us. Matches the description of Christ in Revelation 1:16 . For everything in this book begins and ends in Christ. The son is doubly guilty, because he saw his father's nakedness and felt it enough to hide. As noted in the commentary on Rom. Of course there must needs be a consultation with the kings, when the kings exist and become an accredited part of that empire, as rulers subordinate to the beast. Here the vision was of thrones with sitters, and others caused to join them; and the inspired explanation is that it is the first resurrection the rising of the just from the dead. Before God we have that which is found only by and in Christ, which is another and a higher character altogether as compared with the righteousnesses of the saints. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses ( Revelation 19:14 ). It is altogether unfeasible, and it shows how carelessly we read the Bible that people are not stopped by such an expression. There is no uncertainty whatever in the case. I do not doubt that there was a corrupt form in connection with Israel in times past. Scripture and facts refute all such theories. His blows on this world come more nationally as on Israel; incomparably more severe, as in possession of greater privileges, is the judgment of corrupt Christendom, or Babylon as it is called here. 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath 7 made herself ready. The fine linen, clean and Whoever this angel is, he too had the testimony of Jesus. This is of great importance, because if the new Jerusalem be, as I have no doubt it is, the bride the Lamb's wife, then we have her separate condition asserted in eternity. "The second coming of Christ is an absolutely essential theme in New Testament theology. When the apostle Paul wrote to the, saints at Rome, he particularly specified at that very time the duty of absolute subjection on the part of Christians to the powers which then were. It is by his word that God created the earth and the heavens and everything in them. The word is pistos ( G4103) ; it means absolutely to be trusted. When Christ came personally to judge and govern the quick (Revelation 20:4), there were thrones; for the risen saints reign with Him. To a Jew a word was not merely a sound; it did things. It is not therefore his final judgment. The prophet asks, "Why are you red in your apparel, and your garments like those that have been treading in the wine vat? "Behold I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book." THE TE DEUM OF THE REDEEMED ( Revelation 19:6-8 ). The judgment of the dead is strictly individual, judgments in this world are not. "Alive the two were cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone." There is no scriptural reason to infer that any saint dies during the thousand years, but rather the contrary. No hint whatever is given that they constitute the city, but there is the inscription of their names outside. twelve disciples and twelve Old Testament prophets. 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. Revelation 19:1 "And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in I think that it might be just, "hey, you've had it." He was filled with astonishment that this mysterious form of evil, this counter-testimony of the enemy (not antichrist, but antichurch), should seem and be largely accepted as the holy catholic church of God, that Christendom, if not Christianity, should at the same time become the bitterest of persecutors, more murderously incensed against the witnesses of Jesus and the saints of God than ever paganism had been in any country or all ages. It is also clearly a personal reward to those who had suffered. God. At this point the evil world system has been destroyed and God's kingdom has It is simply said that the glorified are to follow the Lord in victorious power, and nothing more, "clothed in fine linen, white, pure." willing to be his in the day of his power. It was important, just because it is the bride, the Lamb's wife, to show that angels are there, and further, that Israel is not forgotten. He remains in that condition of readiness from the time when He sat at God's right hand till the present. The angel least him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal over him, that he should no more deceive the nations, till the thousand years should be completed: after these things he must be loosed a little time.". This is a mistake. And then we come to a most cheering disclosure: "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of those beheaded on account of the witness of Jesus, and on account of the word of God: and those who had not worshipped the beast, nor his image, and had not received his mark upon their forehead, and on their hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." [issues, proceedeth, comes, came, goeth, comes out, ] . Let me just first emphasise again, In our day men prophecy "the end of Christs church", but Christs Word is mightier than any word that men can utter. church (compare Matt. Revelation 19:1 "And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God:" In the last chapter, we saw the terrible destruction of commercial and political Babylon symbolized by its capital city of Babylon. That is spiritually in chapter seventeen, that great religious system that corrupted the earth. There is more that we still have to learn of Him. He is praised for judging religious Babylon and avenging the martyrs. It can govern and bless but not convert man. He shall destroy the pride of the sinner as a potter's vessel. There is a distinct contrast between the city John describes and the ancient Babylon, in that the latter was built on the plain of Shinar, while the former is expressly said to have seven heads, and these explained to mean seven mountains. We'll study the Book of Revelation, explained in detail, and learn about every aspect of the Book of Revelation including the apocalypse, four horsemen, great tribulation, great white throne judgement, mark of the beast and so much more! (iv) There is fidelity. which sword proceeds out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh ( Revelation 19:21 ). 4:17; see This is predicted in Numbers 24:17 and on account of this the nations will be angry under the sounding of the seventh trumpet, with which this vision is contemporary, Revelation 11:18. Consequently, here we must most unquestionably go back to be shown an important object in the prophecy which could not, without interrupting its course, have been described before. Second, he says: "Let us rejoice and exult." "WHITE" is a symbol throughout the book of Revelation for PURITY and VICTORY. All is opened, and this because we have the Holy Ghost dwelling in us; "for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." Revelation 19 begins with a multitude in heaven singing a doxology to God. The iron rod is showing his ability to protect them. (b) He is true. "So he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness" a thorough waste as to the knowledge or enjoyment of God. and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. The voice includes himself among those who claim God as our God. And then comes the gathering and the battle. I am not aware of any MS. in its favour, though some versions represent it. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet, who performed in his presence signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and who worship his image. union of the church with Christ following the Rapture (see 1 Thess. To the church the end is always near. Revelation 19 In this chapter we have, I. But it conserves certain great truths. This would not be fitting for the church nor the Christian. Gates of hell can never Gainst that Church prevail. Zerubbabel led the first group of Jews, numbering 42,360, who returned from the Babylonian . Accordingly, "Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me." the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Babylon is the parent of the "abominations of the earth." The blessing given could not be taken back. It will be a state of nature unexampled for the fruits of the earth and the enjoyment of all that God has made here below. Verse 11. The outer court represents the control of Jerusalem and Israel by Gentiles during the last half of the Tribulation period. We had Babylon with a spuriously ecclesiastical but a really murderous character, and at the same time guilty of corruption with the kings of the earth. You can believe this. There is nothing more to hear of nations; nothing more to do with separate countries, kindreds, or tongues. In the . It is the fault, however, of the bad Greek text of Erasmus, Stephens, etc. I say not on but over the earth. - Utley, Isaiah 63:1-3; (Source of imagery for the Battle Hymn of the Republic.). Never worry about the righteousness of God's judgments. This is never the case with an angel. It is by the sword that goes out of his mouth. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God ( Revelation 19:9 ). If you are a believer, do not be afraid, even if you know but little; for the Lord neither forgets nor slights those who may be comparatively unintelligent. . Do it not (compare 22:8-9). 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.