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.
The wedding itself, will occur in Revelation 21.
Filled with awe, John falls at the feet of his angel guide. How do we know this is an angel and not Jesus? Note the response:
At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
This repeats the statement in Revelation 12:17, which identified God’s people as those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus.
The angel goes further by stating that the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy – The gift of prophecy is evident throughout the Bible and this is a promise that the gift of prophecy will continue until the end of time.
Joel 2:28-29 - And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
The interlude is over. At last we come to the conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon.
The focus for some time now has been Satan’s army. Satan’s has used the deception and coercion to gain control of his vast 200-million-man army. They have believed the lies and they have worshipped at the feet of the Dragon.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 - The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
How can God’s little army stand? They are weak and oppressed and hunted – If God does not intervene, they will be destroyed. All who have waited in faithful anticipation turn their eyes heavenward:
Isaiah 25:9 - In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."
Habakkuk 3:17-19 - Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
At long last, the Groom is on his way!
1 Samuel 12:16 - Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!
Matthew 24:30-31 - At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Luke 21:27-28 - At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Revelation 19:11 - I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True.
Christ is portrayed as a victorious Roman General. He does not come as an oppressor, however, but as a freedom fighter - a just and righteous Judge.
Isaiah 11:4-5 - but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
He discerns the thoughts and intent of all men – nothing can be hidden from his penetrating gaze.
Hebrews 4:13 - Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
On his head are many crowns. He is not just a king – He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
He comes to avenge the blood of his faithful people and his name is The Word of God.
His heavenly army follows - dressed in white riding white horses.
Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword to strike down the nations:
Ephesians 6:17 - .... and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
He is the same One who walked amongst His churches and promised to always be with them.
The fact that Christ’s weapon of choice is the word that he speaks, reminds us that this final conflict is not physical, but spiritual. It is the final battle in a war started long ago. It will decide for all time who has been telling the truth – who has the right to rule – who is worthy of worship……
Christ has come in all power and authority and he is about to tread the winepress of God’s wrath.
An angel calls the scavengers of the sky to gather for “the great supper of God.” The menu includes kings, commanders, strong people, horses and their horsemen, freemen, slaves, the small, and the great. All who have sided with Babylon and received the Mark of the Beast.
John watches as the beast and the kings of the earth gather to make war against Christ and his army. But wait…. After all the hype. After all the false promises of satanic victory, the great battle is over before it even begins. The Sea Beast and the Earth Beast (false prophet) are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire. The rest of the Dragon’s army are killed with the sword that came from Christ’s mouth and the birds begin to gather…….
2 Thessalonians 2:8 - And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
The whole earth now resembles a vast battlefield - the defeat is total. Christ is victorious. The Dragon’s end-time collaborators and the masses who followed after them are all dead, but what of the Dragon?
Revelation 20:1-3 - And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
For the next 1000 years, Satan will be bound to the earth that he was so anxious to possess, but he will have nothing to do – no one to tempt – no kingdom to rule over.
He is alone to contemplate his choices. Will he change? Will he come to his senses? Only time will tell.
