10:13; Jude 9). What's amazing is that the Father never calls His Son "My God," though there are at least 7 times in the NT where Jesus called the Father "My God." twice on the cross, once on resurrection morning with Mary, and 4 times in Revelation 3.12. He knows Jesus replaced the filth with His righteousness. Revelation 19 - Jesus Returns as Conquering Lord A. Otherwise, it is called in the scriptures, Gehenna, which is the final abode for the unrighteous dead. He answers, "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in my anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. It is the place that Jesus said God prepared for Satan and his angels. His Earthly Kingdom (see article Kingdom But still we have not the end of Babylon yet. The person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Redeemer, is in the centre of these future events. And God said, "Let the waters above the firmament be separated from the waters below the firmament." 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 ). When the hour comes that is spoken of here, it is not for us, but for those who will be found after we are gone. They are not part of the body of Christ. It was ruled in general that the worldly powers were ordained of God. yet are a large body of themselves. 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. In the description of the total destruction of Babylon, come the words: "Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!" of the bride, the Lamb's wife. It is as if the multitude of the redeemed sent up their shout of praise because the promise of Christ to his persecuted ones had come abundantly true. 5:10). But this passage confronts us with something which became of very great importance in the worship of the Church. I sometimes judge without having all the facts in hand, and so my judgments are often wrong. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God. . She will despise everything really divine; she will only use whatever of God's word she can pervert for increasing her own importance, and gaining a greater ascendancy over the consciences of men, and enjoying herself more luxuriously in this world; for she will go far to obliterate all remembrance of heaven, and to make this world a kind of paradise which she embellishes, not with pure and undefiled religion, but with the arts of men and the idolatries of the world. is a myth. Both small and great: All distinctions and ranks are to be transcended. The whole Middle East area of Israel all the way through the land from the Valley of Megiddo clear on down to Edom will be crowded with the vast armies of the world. The living creatures are, from Revelation 5:1-14 coupled with the elders, as we find them in the beginning of Revelation 19:1-21. At this point the evil world system has been destroyed and God's kingdom has "Speak to the birds of every sort and to all beasts of the field. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth--of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bulls. And you shall eat fat till you are filled, and drink blood till you are drunk at the sacrificial feast which I am preparing for you" ( Ezekiel 39:17-19). Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 19:1-4. The betrothal takes place on earth during the church age; The presentation will take place in heaven following the Rapture (verse 7); and. ", GOD'S WORD IN ACTION ( Revelation 19:13 ). Hence. They were in three distinct stages which first involved the betrothal or It can govern and bless but not convert man. "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. He says: "The possession of the prophetic spirit, which makes a true prophet, shows itself in a life of witness to Jesus, which perpetuates his witness to the Father and to himself" A prophet's message lies in the personal witness of his life, even more than in the spoken witness of his words. But he tells us further that the Spirit of prophecy, who prophesies in this book, is the testimony of Jesus. purified at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 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. Although Hallelujah appears only here in the Bible, it occurs in a translated form frequently. To us, as His soldiers, Christ says "As My Father has sent Me so send I you." Revelation 19:8 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine When God is so gracious, His word rich, full, and deep, it does seem sad to see His children content with just enough to save their souls, or keep them from positive starvation. The church is heavenly; and in heaven there are no times nor seasons. Ephesians 6:17; smite the nations . This brings in idolatry, real shameless idolatry too, not merely that subtle working of the idolatrous spirit that every Christian has to guard against. In Christianity you have a God that is reaching out to man. But the most ordinary knowledge suffices; for who does not know from the Bible that there was a Roman empire when Christ was born, one emperor, and no such state as that empire divided into ten kingdoms? This may seem to us a strange metaphor. He comes to execute vengeance, and with a sign of death for rebels. 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; only place in the Bible where the word "omnipotent" occurs. Why then is the book of life mentioned? Their doom was awful, but by no means after the same sort as their two leaders. So we are obliged to translate the single word, e.g. If you Jer. Hence the effort of some to prop up a manifestly false reading. ceremony); The marriage of the Lamb: The wife or bride of Christ is the church (Matt. If Christianity does not bring joy, it does not bring anything. It is a simple picture, not to be taken with crude literalness, but simply saying very beautifully that in his kingdom all men will enjoy the bounty of God. This destruction of the last, most powerful empire in history marks the end of I speak not of anything that might be deemed exceptional or peculiar, but of two acts of raising saints. It will be observed that in this case it is one of the angels that had the seven bowls who comes forward and says to John, "Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore (or harlot) that sitteth upon [the] many waters." Here we have described to us the visions of The Conquering Christ (19:11-16), the judgments of the beast and of the false prophet and of Satan (19:17-20:10), the judgment of the wicked (20:11-15), the visions of the New heaven, the New earth and the New Jerusalem (20:16-22;5). That is why religions fail. Yet it will be found imperfect, for reasons which, I think, will be clear to any unbiassed mind. You see, the Father has no God-He is "the only true God" according to Jesus in John 17:3. But we as properly say, "Come." Little do they know, because they believe not what is here written, that it is about to come out of the abyss or bottomless pit. The thought of the relationship between God and his people as a marriage goes far back into the Old Testament. The death and decay of billions of sea creatures will only add to the misery of this judgment. Study Revelation 19:19-19 - 'King James Version' translation alongside Secrets of Heaven (New Century Edition, Cooper) #2694 and Secrets of Heaven (New Century Edition, Cooper) #3880 . And I fell at His feet to worship him. "These have one mind, and give their own power and authority to the beast," or their imperial leader. Second, he came from a world in which it was believed that God did not interest himself directly but made his contact through the demons (daimon, G1142) , by means of whom he controlled the natural forces and acted upon men. That a corrupt religion is better than none I will not say: at any rate it troubles men; it is a thorn in the side of those who want no religion at all. 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 . 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. It means true in the sense that Jesus Christ is the one who brings the truth and who never at any time has any falsehood in anything that he says. man's day. No marriage can last without fidelity, and the Christian must be as faithful to Jesus Christ as Jesus Christ is to him. At first reading, to some this sounds harsh, but it is referring to His ability to proect his sheep. On the head of the victor Christ there are many crowns to show that he is lord of all the kingdoms of the earth. Yet one allows freely a partial application already. And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword by which these rebellious armies are destroyed. Where Hallelujah occurs in the Old Testament it is translated by Praise God, but here in this chapter the original Hebrew form, transliterated into Greek, is retained. (Hebrews 4:13). We usually pronounce it JEHOVAH; but the vowels in Jehovah are really those of the Hebrew word 'Adonay ( H136) , which means Lord, the name by which the Jews called God in order to avoid pronouncing the sacred name. Again and again the prophets thought of Israel as the chosen bride of God. Then you may be very good all week long, and you put your little star behind each of the categories each evening. His attributes: he is faithful and true to his covenant and promise, he is righteous in all his judicial and military proceedings, he has a penetrating insight into all the strength and stratagems of his enemies, he has a large and extensive dominion, many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. I have examined Him. But here there is neither; and this again is an evidence of gain, not of loss. We do know some of His names "Jesus, the Christ, The Son of God, Shepherd, Redeemer, Saviour, Prince of Peace, King of Kings and Lord of lords"----but the fullness of His love and power none of us has yet realized. stench and the potential for disease. 23:5). Once it is in an Old Testament quotation in 2 Corinthians 6:18; the other nine times are all in the Revelation ( Revelation 1:8; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 11:17; Revelation 15:3; Revelation 16:7; Revelation 16:14; Revelation 19:6; Revelation 19:15; Revelation 21:22). 2. to Christ in faith during the Tribulation (compare Jer. After so long a tarrying how blessed! In the coming of the Lord all include His coming to the habitable earth. The political side of this is described here with surprising brightness and brevity. This And her smoke rose up for ever "Faithful" is what belongs to a man. This was an arrangement by both sets of parents, was legally binding Again, death and hades are said to come to their end, personified as enemies. Another warlike expedition of the glorious head and husband of the church, with the success of it, ver 10, etc. To be crowned with more than one crown may seem strange, but in the time of John it was quite natural. Verses 1-6: Alleluia: This Hebrew word appears 4 times in the New Testament. There is no doubt that THE RIDER ON THE WHITE HORSE In 19:11 IS CHRIST. Past history therefore in no way suits the prophecy. In Php_2:9-11 we read of the name above every name which God has given to Jesus Christ because of his complete obedience; and there the name is almost certainly Lord. more depending on the economic or social status of the bride and groom. Consequently Christianity, as being directly aggressive on the falsehood of heathenism, was of all things the most offensive to Rome. Ruling includes destroying as well as reigning over (Psalms 2:9). 11:25-27). Here we have the purely Jewish idea of the Word of God. supreme in authority, and "God", which means supreme deity; you have an Judgments: Saints long for the day of judgment (compare 6:10; 16:7; Isa. I am your fellow-servant and the fellow-servant of your brothers who possess the testimony which Jesus gave. Her part in the corruption of the high and the intoxication of the low her idolatrous character has come before us. 5:25-32). Revelation provided a message of hope: God is in sovereign control of all the events of human history, and though evil often seems pervasive and wicked men all powerful, their ultimate doom is certain. Gods communion with His people (verse 7). "Praise our God," says the voice, "all you his servants, you who fear him." There is the basis for my righteousness. When Christ at God's right hand was announced, even from the very beginning, He was ready to judge the quick and the dead. Man converted will then not merely reach the natural term if I may so say of a thousand years, but pass that bound. The temple would suppose a medium. There stands the solemn brand graven, not on the blasphemous beast, but on the forehead of its rider, "Mystery, Babylon the great." "Surely I come quickly." This has no time element attached. Do not wonder at the vast numbers, or at their defection. This is just a statement telling us it will never be built And it was so. . "Five are fallen, one is, the other hath not yet come." So we find the Lord has room for all that is the fruit of His own grace only, for the appeal of grace, even when there is not the answer to it. There is no scriptural reason to infer that any saint dies during the thousand years, but rather the contrary. How can it be said that this vile, corrupt, idolatrous system of the last days was guilty of the blood of all martyrs? 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. In other words, this is the characteristic title for God in the Revelation. (John 5:24 compared with Romans 14:1-23 and 2 Corinthians 5:1-21.). "And when the thousand years are completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to war." Judgment is the inescapable consequence of sin. There is no paradox in the message whatever. The one therefore throws much light upon the other. And I saw heaven open, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True ( Revelation 19:11 ). It is necessary that we should all bear in mind, if we have not observed it before, thatRevelation 17:1-18; Revelation 17:1-18 does not pursue the chronological course of the prophecy. We can understand a remnant saved out of one or more nations; but who ever heard of "nations of them which are saved"? Christ will strike down His enemies with a word that His long, tongue-shaped sword (Gr. From his mouth . News Links, Recommended Books, News Sites, and Bibles Although the words are the same as in the first chapter of the Fourth Gospel, the meaning is quite different and much simpler. ( 7) Namely, to that holy marriage, both herself in person in this verse, and also provided by her spouse with marriage gifts princely and divine, is adorned and prepared in the next verse. The fine linen, clean and Is not this reason enough for saying that not even the shadow of solid ground appears for the system? Revelation 2. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. We find that Jesus is called the faithful witness. They will be gathered together at the inspiration of Satan. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. THE ALMIGHTY AND HIS KINGDOM ( Revelation 19:6-8 continued). Verse 1 of the Revelation already shows God's intention: ".to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass". But now He is ready to return and establish His kingdom and take us unto Himself and the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife, or bride, has made herself ready. He guards his people, allowing the wicked to exercise their power only within the limits that he has set according to his eternal plan. others may live (see article . ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.". "The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." He will tread the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God. What is it, seven hundred and fifty million degrees Fahrenheit or something like that? She is, the mother of the harlots, but also (and with still deeper guilt) of the abominations of the earth. Here is one of the most dramatic moments in the Revelation, the emergence of the conquering Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16; sharp . There is nothing more to hear of nations; nothing more to do with separate countries, kindreds, or tongues. The prophet asks, "Why are you red in your apparel, and your garments like those that have been treading in the wine vat? "And the angel said unto him, Wherefore didst thou wonder? It will be interesting to find out. It is hard to see how Roman city, or anything civil connected with it, could be called "mystery." 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. I say not on but over the earth. His Word is "a two-edged sword." You must with the best authorities leave out this addition, if you would have the true force of the verse. The son is doubly guilty, because he saw his father's nakedness and felt it enough to hide. The race was now in the resurrection state either for good or for evil; and thus it must be for ever. And they also lasted much longer. We find, accordingly, the four and twenty elders and four living creatures here brought before us for the last time. on Line, email us at: the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.". ). The Jewish marriage consisted of three major elements: (3) The marriage feast (supper), as was discussed just before. Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. But the attempt, again, to apply what is said here to a future city of Babylon in Chaldea seems to me no less vain. used (in Gen. 19:28). There was judicial discernment with the distinct possession of all titles to sovereignty. He was the word of God in the revelation of grace; when known, by and by, it will be as the executor of God's judgments. "Crowns and thrones may perish Kingdoms rise and wane But the Church of Jesus Constant will remain. understood literally. You see, all of the fineries But the prophecy shows us the beast revived and the separate kings reigning for the same time, before divine judgment destroys them at the coming of Christ and His saints. "The armies of heaven" wear the fine linen, white and pure" "which is the righteousness of the saints" (19:8). Worship God!". 19:4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, "Amen. which will take place on earth following the return of Christ (20:4; Matt. There follows praise from the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures. You can't start with a finite base and reach to infinity. (b) He is true. Accordingly the rapture of the church with the Old Testament saints must have already taken place, all (as I have no doubt) being caught up at the self-same time to be with the Lord above. Revelation 29 Lessons. If you understand the testimony of Jesus, what must you do. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS ( Revelation 19:15-16 ). The biblical narrative of the revelation at Sinai begins in Exodus 19 after the arrival of the children of . marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.". Choose a verse from 'Revelation 1' to begin your 'Verse-by-Verse' study of God's Word using the more than 100 commentaries available on StudyLight.org . 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. The antichrist and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire, signifying punishment from which there is no escape. willing to be his in the day of his power. But the church consists of souls called out from the earth, and is not of the world: consequently to the church the time is always at hand. 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. "And the nations shall walk in the light of it." We have already met this description in Revelation 1:14 and Revelation 2:18. I agree one hundred percent. "Let him that heareth," then, "say, Come." On him the blow comes, not on the wretched parent. But when Christ and the church peacefully reign, such is the imagery that suits "a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. The word is alethinos ( G228) and has two meanings. He wants you to have a relationship with Him, a loving relationship, not a legal relationship. We take this phrase by itself, because it is both ambiguous and important. come into its fullness. Then again the character of it, as derived from Christianity having already taken its place, is asserted. The prophecy centers around the person of Jesus Christ. Wars were matters of ambition and tyranny and oppression rather than of justice. (5) So here is the praise being given to God and now the encouragement for that praise coming from the throne of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. "This is the first resurrection. Then comes not the destruction only of these rebels by divine judgment, but the dissolution of heaven and earth. A further account of the triumphant song of angels and saints for the fall of Babylon, ver 1-4. It means here that his enemies would be certainly crushed before him - as grapes are crushed under the feet of him that treads in the winevat. There is more that we still have to learn of Him. After "the nations" in verse 24 omit the words "of them which are saved." - Utley. That is religion. "God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" ( John 4:24 ). Verse 8. But whatever subsisted then, that which the Spirit here presents as a whole cannot be found realized at any point of time in the past. Jeremiah hears God say and appeal: "Return, O faithless children, for I am your master" ( Jeremiah 3:14). to Top, Other Books of the Bible 14 Verse 2. Worship: Only God is to be worshiped (compare 22:8-9; 17 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.