Revelation Chapter 19
1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God;
2 for his judgements are true and righteous. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand."
3 A second said, "Hallelujah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever."
4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who sits on the throne, saying, "Amen! Hallelujah!"
5 A voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!"
6 I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!
7 Let's rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let's give the glory to him. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready."
8 It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 He said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.' " He said to me, "These are true words of God."
10 I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, "Look! Don't do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy."
11 I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war.
12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself.
13 He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called "The Word of God."
14 The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen.
15 Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.
16 He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
17 I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, "Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God,
18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, small and great."
19 I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur.
21 The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh.
Footnotes
- Verse 15
- Psalm 2:9
- Verse 17
- Textus Receptus reads "supper of the great God" instead of "great supper of God"
Version: World English Bible
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Revelation Chapter 19 Guide
We now come to the things leading up to the establishment of the Kingdom. There are three great movements of praise: one by a great multitude who have been slain; the second by the elders and the living ones; finally, a mighty chorus which John describes by a threefold similitude as "the voice of a great multitude," "the voice of many waters," "the voice of mighty thunders." This precedes the marriage of the Lamb. The harlot is no more. The true Bride is manifest.
A word of blessing is pronounced on those bidden to this marriage ceremony.
Now comes the actual manifestation of Jesus to the world, and the judgment already foretold is described from the standpoint of His activity. The principle of His procedure is that He is "faithful and true" in character, and judging in righteousness in conduct. On His head are many diadems, suggesting His imperial sway over every realm of life. His name is "The Word of God." On His thigh is written "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." This glorious King in His manifestation is accompanied by His armies.
As the heavens are opened, and the King and His armies are manifested, an angel is seen standing in the sun, and in figurative language is heard announcing the coming victory. The massed powers of godlessness are gathered with the awful purpose of making war against the true King. The battle is immediately joined. There is no indecision, no varying fortunes. The King and His armies are supernatural. It is the hour when heaven is touching earth, and the victory is with heaven.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Revelation Chapter 19 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The church in heaven and that on earth triumph, and praise the Lord for his righteous judgments. -- (1-10)
- A vision of Christ going forth to destroy the beast and his armies. -- (11-21)
Verses 1-10
Praising God for what we have, is praying for what is yet further to be done for us. There is harmony between the angels and the saints in this triumphant song. Christ is the Bridegroom of his ransomed church. This second union will be completed in heaven; but the beginning of the glorious millennium (by which is meant a reign of Christ, or a state of happiness, for a thousand years on earth) may be considered as the celebration of his espousals on earth. Then the church of Christ, being purified from errors, divisions, and corruptions, in doctrine, discipline, worship, and practice, will be made ready to be publicly owned by him as his delight and his beloved. The church appeared; not in the gay, gaudy dress of the mother of harlots, but in fine linen, clean and white. In the robes of Christ's righteousness, imputed for justification, and imparted for sanctification. The promises of the gospel, the true sayings of God, opened, applied, and sealed by the Spirit of God, in holy ordinances, are the marriage-feast. This seems to refer to the abundant grace and consolation Christians will receive in the happy days which are to come. The apostle offered honour to the angel. The angel refused it. He directed the apostle to the true and only object of religious worship; to worship God, and him alone. This plainly condemns the practice of those who worship the elements of bread and wine, and saints, and angels; and of those who do not believe that Christ is truly and by nature God, yet pay him a sort of worship. They stand convicted of idolatry by a messenger from heaven. These are the true sayings of God; of Him who is to be worshipped, as one with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Verses 11-21
Christ, the glorious Head of the church, is described as on a white horse, the emblem of justice and holiness. He has many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is arrayed in a vesture dipped in his own blood, by which he purchased his power as Mediator; and in the blood of his enemies, over whom he always prevails. His name is "The Word of God;" a name none fully knows but himself; only this we know, that this Word was God manifest in the flesh; but his perfections cannot be fully understood by any creature. Angels and saints follow, and are like Christ in their armour of purity and righteousness. The threatenings of the written word he is going to execute on his enemies. The ensigns of his authority are his name; asserting his authority and power, warning the most powerful princes to submit, or they must fall before him. The powers of earth and hell make their utmost effort. These verses declare important events, foretold by the prophets. These persons were not excused because they did what their leaders bade them. How vain will be the plea of many sinners at the great day! We followed our guides; we did as we saw others do! God has given a rule to walk by, in his word; neither the example of the most, nor of the chief, must influence us contrary thereto: if we do as the most do, we must go where the most go, even into the burning lake.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.