Lesson 36Revelation 19 |
As we move into Revelation 19, remember that this chapter contains more detailed information about Revelation 14:14 – 16 (from lesson 32). Let us reread Revelation 14:14 – 16:
Revelation 14:14 – 16
14. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like to the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.15. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
With these verses in mind, let us examine chapter 19. Before John tells us about the white cloud and the one sitting on it there is this pause. Some may wonder why there is a pause, but that is answered in verse 1 with the first four words: “And after these things…” The event that John is talking about is what we studied in Revelation 17 – 18, the destruction of the great whore and all that she stood for and did. In other words, she has been judged and found guilty and the sentence was executed.
We may anxiously want to move past this pause or interlude to get to the white cloud and its rider. In doing so, we will miss some knowledge that will help us deal with what we are going through in our lives currently. As you read verses 1 – 5, you see that the focus and viewpoint is from a heavenly perspective and not from an earthly perspective. Today, too many of us focus on the wrong things or have the wrong perspective about the matters at hand. So lets examine the first five verses of Revelation 19. What would be the reason that God allows John to place these verses here at this time? Do you remember what Revelation 18:20 says? It is in the middle of two events and many readers may move right pass it with no understanding of the significance.
We, as humans and as saints, have been asking God for a long time these questions. WHY are the heathens winning? Where are you God? Read the following: Psalms 2 and 42 – 43, John 16:31 – 33, II Timothy 1:7 and Revelation 6:9 - 11. Both of these questions are coming from an earthly viewpoint, which is not to be the viewpoint of the saints.
The reason that God allowed John to place Revelation 18:20 in the middle of the two events is that He allows John to tell us more about them. In addition, as we read Revelation 18, we were looking at the scene from an earthly viewpoint. Looking from an earthly perspective at events and circumstances causes mankind to miss the significance of many events that God uses to show His love for us.
With that in mind lets see what heaven is doing about what has happened to this great whore. God allows John to use a word here in heaven that is not found anywhere else in the Bible. The word is ALLELUIA. That means, “Praise the LORD (the everlasting)”. Look at what it is linked to in verses 1 – 4:
salvation = deliverance, safety [physical, moral]
glory = majesty,
honor = reverence
power = inherent power by virtue of its nature
true = genuine, real
righteous = virtuous, faultless
judgments = decisions given concerning anything
judged = decreed
Amen = it is and shall be so, let it be so
So now, let us read Revelation 19:1 – 4 again with these definitions in mind. All of those in the heavens are seeing that God has completed His plan for the great whore, Babylon, after ALL the time He gave her and all of her followers to come to Him.
Verse 5 tells us that John heard a voice out of the throne. There is only one who can be on and in the throne. All of the servants and those who reverence Him, small (age or size) and great (size or position of authority), will praise Him.
There is one more ALLELUIA we need to talk about which is found in verse 6. This ALLELUIA is linked to “…the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” So let us look at this statement. The word omnipotent means all-ruling (sovereign), and Almighty. Think about this. He is all-ruling, so where does that leave Satan? In fact, this puts all governments in check. For they do not have the final word on anything that really matters in the universe. “God’s love is both omnipotent and everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3). His purpose is also omnipotent; it cannot be thwarted, no matter how the nations or the invisible forces of evil may seek to do so. God’s will is also omnipotent, the mightiest thing in the universe.” (Lockyer, All About the Second Coming. p. 176) Please take comfort in what you just read and keep moving on the path that God has placed you on. He knows the path and ALL that you will face on that path. Remember what Jesus said in John 16:33:
John 16:33
33. These things I have spoken to you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.The other word that is key here is “reigneth;” that He reigneth or reigns means He rules with kingly powers. Praise the LORD (the Everlasting) that is the all- ruling King. The ones who speak these words are a great number of people who have become saints and are from different nations, languages, and dialogs.
Before moving on to verses 7 – 10, lets read Ephesians 5:22 – 28.
Ephesians 5:22 – 28
22. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.23. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
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.
28. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Here we have a description of the relationship we find in verses 7 – 10 of Revelation 19. The relationship is one in which the wife (bride, the body of Christ) submits to the husband as the Lord. The result of this is that she is presented to him without any of the things that would defile her. We will talk about this more as we move into these verses.
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”
This marriage of the Lamb to the bride is also known as the Second Coming or Second Advent. What do these terms mean? There are several terms that have been used and misunderstood which I believe is time to correct:
- Rapture = when the Holy Spirit and true believers are pulled out of the world by God. This takes place before the Tribulation occurs.
- Second Coming or Second Advent = This takes place after the beast (Anti-Christ) and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire. Those that took the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his images are killed. They are killed in the battle known as Armageddon. We will examine this more in verses 11 – 21 of this chapter.
How does the bride prepare herself for the groom? In this case, the answer is found in His word: II Timothy 2:15, and Matthew 25: 1 – 10, and also in Ephesians 5:22 – 28. Before going any further, we really need to understand that the bride is the Church. This is the present Church and those saints that will come out of the Tribulation and Great Tribulation. Why is this so very important? The Church needs to keep herself in the word of God as Jesus prepares a place for her. During this time the church must keep herself pure and ready to be received by the Groom upon His return. When this is done, verse 8 tells us how she will be dressed.
“And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.“
Lets examine these words used in this verse.
granted = delivered
arrayed = clothed in fine linen,
clean = pure
white = clear and bright
righteousness = it embodies three things:
- What God has declared to be right.
- God acquits men of their sins through His Son’s sacrifice and their acceptance of that gift from His Son.
- The saints’ acceptance of Christ is demonstrated by living to reflect and prove Christ’s presence in their lives.
Let us re-read verse 9 slowly for there is something important within this verse. ”And he saith to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith to me, These are the true sayings of God.”
The word “called” means invited or summoned. Why is this so important? It lets us know that there are some who are not invited to this marriage. I believe that these uninvited ones are those who did not receive the mark of the beast nor worshiped the image, but are not saints. I believe that these are the ones who will influence a great number of people during the period of the Millennium. We will learn more about this in Revelation 20.
In the rest of Revelation 19, we will learn about the rider of the white horse and the battle. In verse 11, we are told that John sees a new part of heaven opening up which reveals a white horse. On this horse is the one called “Faithful and True.” What is meant by these words? The word Faithful as used here means one who is reliable and who is to be trusted in the execution of the duties given Him. The word True means one who cannot lie, nor is there anything counterfeit in Him or His work. With these concepts in mind, let us see what else John reveals to us in this verse. We are told that this rider will judge and make war, but he will do this in righteousness. This is the same word used in verse 8. Again, the meaning of righteousness includes:
- What God has declared to be right.
- God acquits men of their sins through His Son’s sacrifice and their acceptance of that gift from His Son.
- The saints’ acceptance of Christ is demonstrated by living to reflect and prove Christ’s presence in their lives.
John says in verse 12, that “His eyes were as a flame of fire…” In lesson 3 we talked about these flaming eyes as being able to burn through to the truth. These flaming eyes represent the righteousness of the rider’s judgment on all who come before Him. Therefore, the punishment that is issued will be correct and just. Please remember that this judgment is not based on the world’s standards, but God’s standards. In addition to His eyes, we are told that He had many crowns. These crowns represent the many kingdoms of earth and heaven over which He reigns. Do you remember that the anti-christ was placed over three horns that represent three kingdoms (Daniel 7:8, 20, 24 & 8:9 - 12). The antichrist has limited power, but Jesus will have total power. We also read that there is a name for Jesus that no one other than Himself can understand or perceive.
From verse 13 – 16, we get the full image of Jesus’ Second Coming or Second Advent. In these verses we are told of a vesture, a robe, which we must examine, because it is important. Verse 13 tells us that it is dipped (immersed) in blood. What is the meaning of this blood? Some think it is the blood of Jesus’ enemies. I do not think this is the case, because the battle has not started yet. I am aware that Jesus has had enemies long before this event takes place. However, if they are able to stain His robe before He leaves heaven, then it would appear that they know God’s plan. This cannot be the case. I believe that the vesture is dipped with all of mankind’s sins, which makes this blood His blood that He gave up on the cross. He took on all of the sins of mankind that could only be paid for with His blood. If this is the case, when He comes back the second time to judge and to make war, His robe will be a reminder of all that He does for mankind. Remember that He is Faithful and True in all that is required of Him, so that mankind could come home to the Father through Him. Verse 16 says that on this robe that is immersed in blood and on His thigh is written KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
In verse 13 are these words “…his name is called The Word of God.” The meaning of the word “WORD” is logos, which means the embodiment of God. So with this in mind read John 1: 1 – 4:
John 1: 1 – 4
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Again, John confirms that Jesus is Faithful and that He is True to His nature. In addition, what He has put in place for mankind will be completed. You may ask when was this plan put into place? The answer is in Genesis 3:15. In fact, in reading and studying God’s word, the Bible, you see Him reaching out to mankind to bring them home to Himself. What was Jesus’ role here on earth during His first Advent? The answer to this question can be found in Luke 19:10.
In Revelation 19:14, we are told about the armies that will follow Jesus out of heaven. Who are these armies? We are told in Psalms 68:17, Jude 14, and Revelation 14:1 & 17:14 that they are angels and saints. We also read in Revelation 19:14 that they are dressed in fine linen that is white and clean. White and clean meaning without spot or blemish or anything that causes them not to be with Jesus. Some of this army is the bride (the church) and Jesus is the one who cleaned them through His blood and His word. Therefore, that robe (vesture) which Jesus has on holds even more meaning.
With all of this in mind, we can understand the image of Jesus given in verse 15. The sword is the word of God and yes, it will smite (cut down, kill). Jesus will break down everything that stands in the way of God. The picture “…and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” is one you can feel and see in your mind. This is taking place because they would not come to God. Instead, the non-believers choose to worship the image of the anti-christ and take the mark of the beast after ALL that God has done to bring them home to Him.
As we move into verses 17 and 18, we see how God arranges to clean up after the battle is over. In verse 17, John tells us that he saw an angel standing in the sun, which means that this angel is seen and heard all over the earth. In this case he is not heard by mankind, but the birds of the air. These are not just any birds, but those who feed on flesh. They are told to assemble themselves unto the feast of the great God. Take a moment to think of the word feast. When you think of that word, you think of all kinds of delicious foods. In verse 18, we are told what these delicious foods will be. Nevertheless, if you remember these are the same types of people that pray for the rocks to fall on them in Revelation 6:15 – 16.
Revelation 6:15 – 16
15. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;16. And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
As we move into these last three verses please read them slowly and thoughtfully so as not to miss a single word. For they show the judgment of the Rider of the white horse.
The scene opens with John telling us who is at the Battle of Armageddon and in the area. You may ask why this is important! First, lets list all of the characters that are in the Battle: 1) Kings of the earth and their armies. 2) The Rider of the white horse and His army. On the face of things, you would think that these armies should be able to defeat this one Rider and His army. Remember what their mindset is according to Revelation 13:4 “…Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Here is why this is important. The Battle of Armageddon is with the Kings of the earth and their armies and not with the Satan. That battle will take place after the thousand years (millennium). We will get into this in the next lesson on chapter 20 of Revelation. Due to the fact that the beast was around when they went to war against the Rider and His army, the kings are emboldened to attack them.
Remember the Rider is called Faithful and True. Therefore, in verse 20 we see that the first thing the Rider does is to take the beast and false prophet. Once he has taken them he throws them alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. In lesson 32 we talked about this fire (a heap of fuel that is forever) and the brimstone (sulfur). Sulfur is used for purifying, which gives the idea that cleansing is occurring. Yet in Revelation 14:11, it says that the smoke of this cleansing goes up forever and ever. There is no hope or chance that these enemies of God will get into heaven.” It is very important that you remember they are alive in this lake of fire and will be there for a thousand years. Again, we will get into more of this in Revelation 20.
Can you imagine how the kings of the earth felt seeing the one that no one would make war with being taken alive by the Rider? In verse 21, we are told that the rest of them which came to make war were killed with the sword. Do you see, that the word does not say “with swords” but “with a sword”? This is the same sword in verse 15, which comes out of the Rider’s mouth. The army that comes with the Rider does not fight, because in verse 11 we are told “…he doth judge and make war.” After the killing of these remaining unbelievers, the birds have their delicious foods to eat to their fullest.
