1. Last week we saw the destruction of Babylon, which marked the end of the history of this world in its present form. Babylon was destroyed forever.
2. Today we again see the destruction of Babylon, but from the perspective of heaven. Rather than a scene of lamenting we see a scene of joy.
3. The events of this scene are not chronologically after that of chapter 18. Although John says he sees this scene "after" what he saw before, he is shown the same event and how it effects response from those who are in heaven.
4. The scene is one of jubilation. And some may ask, why should there be rejoicing over the death and destruction of all that is on the earth. Can we enjoy the suffering of others? Is that Christ-like? Well, we can rejoice and we should. They rejoice in the righteous judgement of God. Babylon was evil and had rebelled against the God whom they loved. They had caused many others to sin against God as well. They had defiled the name of God and mocked Him. They had forbidden the worship of God. And they had persecuted and martyred the people of God. And now Christ could fully reign and they would be united with Him in that reign.
5. The scene is one that is filled with praise for God. John hears what sounded like the roar of a great multitude.
6. Four times we hear the shout "hallelujah." A Hebrew word found nowhere else in the New Testament. A word frequently used in the Psalms. Hallelu means "praise ye" and jah is a short form of Jehovah, the covenant name of God. They shout "Praise ye Jehovah; praise ye our covenant God."
7. Verses 1-5 praise God for the destruction of Babylon. Her destruction is complete. The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever. The shouts of praise are from all the saints of all time - vs. 5 says they are the servants of God, those who fear Him." And the 24 elders fall down and worship God as well as the four living creatures. And a voice comes from the throne saying "Praise God, all you His servants." God would not address Himself as God and so that voice must come from one of the four creatures, who was very close to the throne.
8. In verse 6 the praise continues but the focus is no longer on the destruction of Babylon.
Rev 19:6 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.
9. The praise is beyond description and John tries to find words to describe it. Like the roar of rushing waters, like the loud peals of thunder. Last Sunday morning I felt moved by the singing as you gave prise to the risen Lord. How much greater will be the praises of all the saints together.
10. The focus of the praise is that the Lord our God Almighty reigns. Now that Babylon is destroyed God’s reign is unchallenged and fully manifest. So let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory.
11. But along with His rule comes a wedding. The wedding of the Lamb has come. He is the bridegroom and His bride has made herself ready.
12. We read of the bridegroom through scripture.
Psa 45:6-9 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.
John the Baptist says in John 3:28-29
You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
13. The bride is the church.
Ephesians 5, Paul compares the relationship between a husband and wife as the relationship between Christ and His church
Rev 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
The New Jerusalem is the church triumphant, the people of God.
14. The bride is given fine linen to wear.
Eph 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
This is the righteous acts of the saints. This can somehow be misleading. Is it our righteous acts that make us the bride of Christ? The Greek word for acts, dikaiomata has a basic meaning which is statute or ordinance. The righteousness that the church has, her fine linen, could be a decreed righteousness. She have been decreed or pronounced righteous because Christ died for her sins.
Rev 7:13-14 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15. But the world as it is found usually refers to deeds. And so it could well refer to her endurance by which she showed that she was the true church.
16. Now we could also say that already today the church is the bride of Christ. But she will truly be the bride in a fully consummated, intimate relationship when all evil has been destroyed and she is no longer subject to sin. When she is glorified.
17. The marriage is symbolic of the increased intimacy we will experience with Christ. That includes an intimate union of nature, of life and of love.
a. Christ imparts His nature to the church. We are conformed to His image as we are sanctified and when we are perfected in heaven we will be holy as he is holy.
b. And we will share an intimate union of life. Christ imparts His own incorruptible, eternal, heavenly, glorious and resurrected life to the entire church.
c. And we will love Him perfectly when in our relationship in heaven. We may profess to love Him now but our love often falls short as we continue to struggle with sin.
18. The angel also talks about the wedding supper of the Lamb. He says "Blessed are those who are invited to this supper." Who are these who are invited? The best answer is you and me. Remember, this is all symbolic. The church as a whole is the bride. But those who are invited to the supper are the individual believers who make up the church.
19. And this supper is probably not a literal supper. The supper is not a passing event but rather it is everlasting. Supper is a time when we communion together and have fellowship together. Through Christ we will have perfect fellowship with the Father. It will be a joyous, continuous fellowship.
20. In verses 10 John falls down to worship the angel, but the angel tells him not to for he is a fellow servant to all who hold on to the testimony of Jesus. That means the testimony about Jesus and the testimony which comes from Jesus.
21. The chapter ends with John seeing a vision. He sees three things. We must remember that these things are symbolic and not to be taken literally. And the order by which he sees them is not necessarily the order in which they appear. The scene stands before John as a painting and he first describes that which first catches his eye.
22. Heaven stands open, ready for the triumphant coming of the Messiah.
23. John sees a white horse with a rider on it the rider is none other than Christ himself. He is called faithful and true. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, indicating His anger but also that nothing on all earth can escape His sight. He sees all. He is the ruler for He wears many crowns. He is no ordinary king. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. His sovereignty is absolute. He is Christ of course.
24. His robe is dipped in blood. This is not from the crucifixion. For Christ is pictured here as the Warrior. The blood is from those whom He has already defeated in the battle. The battle has gone on throughout history but now it will be finished.
25. He has an army.
Rev 19:14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
These could be His angels or, as Hoeksema suggests these are the saints, including you and me.
Rev 2:26-27 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations- 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' - just as I have received authority from my Father.
26. The weapon used with Christ will be His word.
Rev 19:15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
27. He needs no weapons. He need but say something and it will happen, it must. For He is God.
28. The certainty of victory is seen as the angels calls the birds together to eat the flesh of all people - for they will all be defeated. Their bodies will be destroyed but that will not be the end of them, lthough it would have been better for them if it was.
29. Remember what this battle in vs. 19 will be. We talked about Armaggedon a few weeks ago. The armies of the heathen nations will gather together to battle the Lamb. But they will actually be fighting the antichristian nations led by the beast. And as they gather to fight Christ will come upon them and defeat them all. The birds will feats on the flesh of all except the beast and the false prophets.
30. Remember these represent the antichristian political forces and the false church. Whether these are two individuals or more, the text does suggest these are two individuals. They will be thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur which we will read about again in our study of Revelation. They will be destroyed forever.
31. Again we are at the end of history. Christ is victorious. And we, His bride, will share in that victory. How great, how wonderful, how unimaginable that will be! Glory be to God, glory be to the Lamb!
