The Conclusion Of The Battle Of Armageddon Series

July 27, 2024

There is an interlude between the description of Babylon’s judgment in chapter 18 and the conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon in chapter 19:11-21.

Revelation 19 begins with another Sanctuary Scene and the jubilant celebration over the downfall of Satan’s end-time religious system (19:1-10):

“After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever." The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!" Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!" Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Right away we note something interesting in this Sanctuary Scene. John does not actually see the rejoicing Great Multitude; he only hears them. The only groups he sees around God’s throne are the 24 Elders and the 4 Living Creatures.

Why is that? Well, as we have noted before, while Heaven is stamped on their passport’s God’s people are still on earth – but they are aliens and strangers here. They have endured the full force of the Satanic Trinity and remained faithful to God. Now their persecutors have been destroyed never to rise again – I’d rejoice too.

However, this celebration should not be viewed as rejoicing in vengeance, but as gratitude to God for saving his people. Their salvation is only possible because the oppressive religious system is destroyed.

This scene reminds us of the announcement at the 7th Trumpet in Revelation 11:16-17:

“And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.”

Now John is shown the culmination of the Christian hope – the eternal union of Christ and his people – the Marriage supper of the Lamb:

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear."

In John 14:1-3, Jesus made an amazing declaration to his depressed and wavering disciples:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

This scene reflects ancient Jewish wedding practices:

• The perspective groom went to the house of the bride’s father for the betrothal.

• After the groom paid the dowry price, he and the bride were considered legally married, but could not yet live together:

o The groom returned to his father’s home to prepare the place where he and the bride would live.

o The bride stayed at her father’s home and prepared herself for the wedding.

• When all the preparation had been completed, the groom went back to the bride’s house and the wedding feast took place.

• After the feast, the groom took his bride to the home he had prepared for her.

Jesus used this imagery to describe the relationship between Himself and His people.

Christ left his father’s house and came to earth to be betrothed to his people.

He paid the dowry price on Calvary and then returned to his father’s house to prepare a place for his bride.

Meanwhile the bride (his people) remains on earth to prepare herself for the wedding.

How does she do that? She accepts the Garment of Righteousness given to her by the groom and reflects his character in her daily life.

Isaiah 61:10 - I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

God’s end-time people are described here as both Bride and invited guest. As Bride, she has been longing for the promised union with Jesus. As invited guest, she must respond and accept the invitation to the wedding supper.