Revelation 19

This scene emphasizes what John heard instead of what he saw. A large crowd offers the first three-part praise (compare Revelation 7:9–10).

This section expands on the message of the sixth song of response (Revelation 18:20; see study note on Revelation 18:1–24), which called for rejoicing. Various groups offer praises to the Lord. The praises can be divided into two sections:

• thankfulness for the destruction of evildoers (Revelation 19:1–4) and

• thankfulness for the reward of God’s people (19:5–8).

true and just (see Revelation 15:3; 16:7): In his righteous justice, God fulfilled his promise to judge the great prostitute, who symbolizes moral and spiritual corruption and the persecution of God's people.

Her smoke: God's people praise him again when they see the fall of the evil city (compare Revelation 14:11).

• In response to the first two praises (Revelation 19:1–3), the elders and the living beings (see Revelation 4) again bow before God on the throne (see Revelation 4:10; 5:8, 14; 7:11).

• Amen: See study note on Revelation 5:14.

The final loud Hallelujah emphasizes that God rules as the all-powerful being (see Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:15; 21:22).

For the marriage of the Lamb: This event, the wedding of the Messiah with his bride, the church (see Isaiah 54:5; 61:10; Jeremiah 31:32; Ezekiel 16:7–14; Hosea 2:16–20; Mark 2:19–20; 2 Corinthians 11:2), symbolizes complete victory and eternal fellowship.

• fine linen: See study note on Revelation 15:5–6.

• the righteous acts of the saints: See Ephesians 2:8–10; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; James 2:18–22.

• Blessed are those: This fourth blessing in Revelation (see Revelation 1:3; 14:13; 16:15) confirms the hope of the faithful.

• who are invited: God decides who will join.

• marriage supper (compare Revelation 19:17): Jesus often used meals to explain the kingdom (Matthew 22:1–13; Luke 14:7–24), and he established a meal for the church (Mark 14:22–25; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26).

• These are true words: This promise guarantees the message is trustworthy.

The angel gives a strong warning against worshiping the wrong things (compare Revelation 22:8–9).

The rider serves as both a judge and a righteous warrior (see Isaiah 11:1–5). He is called Faithful and True, representing God's authenticity and reliability (see Revelation 19:2; 21:5–6).

Then I saw: John describes a new vision of Jesus Christ as a holy warrior and conquering king (see Revelation 14:1; see also Exodus 15:1–7; Psalms 24:8; 78:49–50; Isaiah 59:16–17).

The drama reaches its peak: God's enemies face defeat and punishment in two episodes (Revelation 19:11–21; 20:7–10). Meanwhile, the faithful enjoy a 1,000-year resurrection (Revelation 20:1–6) followed by the final judgment (20:11–15).

• He has eyes like blazing fire: See Revelation 1:14–16; Daniel 10:6.

• Christ, wearing many crowns, contrasts with the dragon, whose seven heads each had a crown (see Revelation 12:3).

• He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood: This may refer to:

  1. the blood of Christ’s enemies, showing his complete victory (Isaiah 63:2–4); or

  2. Christ’s sacrificial death for humanity (Revelation 1:7).

• The Word of God is John's unique name for Jesus (see John 1:1, 14).

Christ’s heavenly armies, dressed in victorious white and riding on white horses, contrast with:

• the locust forces from the abyss (Revelation 9:3–11),

• the three frog-like evil spirits (Revelation 16:13), and

• the defeated armies at Armageddon (Revelation 16:16; see also 19:19).

• from His mouth … a sharp sword: See Revelation 1:16; Hebrews 4:12; see also Isaiah 49:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:8.

• The iron rod symbolizes Christ’s power as ruler and supreme shepherd (see Psalms 2:9; 23:4).

• God the Almighty: See Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:7, 14; 21:22.

• His fierce wrath will crush his enemies like grapes in a winepress (Isaiah 63:2–4).

KING … LORD: See Revelation 1:5; 15:3; 17:14.

gather together for the great supper: This feast on the flesh of the armies fighting against Christ contrasts with the marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). The enemies ready for battle are quickly destroyed (Revelation 19:20–21; see also 14:17–20; 16:16–21). Two feasts (the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19:7–8 and the "great supper" of God's judgment in Revelation 19:17–18, 21) offer two views on the end of time. They show the two sides of the good news:

• grace and judgment, and

• reward and punishment (compare John 3:16–18).

• the beast … the false prophet: See Revelation 13:1–10.

• The fiery lake of burning sulfur symbolizes eternal punishment (see Revelation 20:10, 14–15; 21:8; see also Isaiah 66:24; Matthew 13:41, 49–50; Mark 9:43, 48).

• God’s enemies are thrown into the fiery lake. The two beasts (Revelation 19:20) are followed by the dragon (20:10) and then by death (20:14) and unsaved humans (20:15).

The entire enemy army is defeated by the sword from Christ’s mouth (see Revelation 1:16; 2:12, 16; see also Isaiah 11:4; 49:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:8). One side of God’s word (grace) leads to repentance, while the other side (judgment) delivers the death sentence.