Revelation Revelation

Feasts Of Judgements

Discover Jesus as: I AM Revelation 19 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 727 of 730
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INTRO

Revelation 19 is a famous and often-studied chapter in Revelation. This chapter contains the picture of Jesus returning on a white horse and of the Battle of Armageddon. All of the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls, everything we have dealt with about the Antichrist and Babylon, has led to this chapter. Revelation 19 serves as a bridge from the Great Tribulation to the Millennial Kingdom—from the seven years of tribulation to the 1,000-year reign of Jesus.

TEACHING

Revelation 19:1-6: “After this” refers to the fall of Babylon (v. 1). The city’s fall prompted a vast multitude in heaven to speak for the first of four times in this chapter. Who makes up the vast multitude? (v. 1) They could be the saints from Revelation 7, angels, or a mixture of both. MacArthur highlighted five reasons for this praise: “(1) God’s deliverance of His people from their enemies (v. 1); (2) God’s judgement are out of justice (v. 2); (3) God’s permanent crushing of man’s rebellion (v. 3); (4) God’s sovereignty (v. 6); and (5) God’s communion with His people (v. 7).”1

The 24 elders in verse 4 could be a representation of the church, of Israel, or of the 12 apostles and the 12 tribes. The “four living creatures” are the lion, the calf, the eagle, and the animal with a man’s face.

Revelation 19:7–10: The multitude praised God because, at this time, He will usher in His kingdom. A new government will exist, and Jesus will reign. Nelson’s Commentary points out that this government is “not a democracy, but a theocracy—a government by God when the ‘Lord God Omnipotent’ shall reign in righteousness (Isaiah 11).”2

The multitude praised God “because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself” (v. 7). In the Old Testament, Israel is described as God’s wife. In the New Testament, the church is described as Christ’s bride. Ephesians 5:23 and 32 explain: “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body . . . This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.” In verse 7, Jesus is referred to as “The Lamb.”

2 Corinthian 7:1 says: “Therefore, dear friends, since we have such promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, completing our sanctification in the fear of God.” Perhaps one of the reasons Christ has not yet returned is that His bride, the church, has not prepared herself. Jude 21 says, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.” MacArthur notes the marriage feast described in verse 10 will represent the completion of the marriage ceremony where we will celebrate the five reasons the multitude praised God throughout this chapter.3

A blessing was pronounced on everyone invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb (v. 9). But if Jesus is the groom and the church is the bride, who will be invited to the feast? Some other group is obviously described here, but who are they? They could be the Old Testament saints, those saved by grace through faith before Pentecost who will also reign with Christ during the millennial kingdom, or they could be the tribulation saints.4

After seeing this, John “fell at his feet to worship” the angel who showed him these things. The angel stopped John and exhorted him to “worship God, because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (v. 10). Jesus was the theme of Old Testament prophecy. He was the cord that held it all together.

Revelation 19:11–16: John saw Jesus, who was referred to as “Faithful and True,” riding on a white horse. Now, Jesus “judges and makes war in righteousness” (v. 11). In this depiction, Jesus “had a name written that no one knows except Himself” (v. 12) similarly to Revelation 3:12: “The victor: I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God—the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God—and My new name.” His robe is bloodstained, and “His name is the Word of God”(v. 13). The blood on His robe is not blood from the battle of Armageddon. Nelson’s Commentary suggests the blood could be from His redemptive death, the trampling of the winepress of God’s wrath, or both.5

“The armies that were in heaven” who followed Jesus (v. 14) could be the church, Old Testament believers, tribulation saints, or angels.6 MacArthur observed that the armies of heaven “return not to help Jesus in the battle (they are unarmed), but to reign with him after He defeats His enemies.”7 The sharp sword that comes out of His mouth depicts the power Jesus will have to kill His enemies.

Revelation 19:17–21: The battle of Armageddon happens here. It begins with an angel calling to the birds to gather “for the great supper of God” (v. 17). This is not the marriage feast of the Lamb that was described earlier in Revelation 19. Instead, it is the coming of God’s final judgment that will see the birds “eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great” (v. 18).

In verse 19, the beast is the Antichrist and the kings of the earth are the ten nations. They gather together to fight against Jesus and His army. During the battle, the beast and the false prophet will be taken prisoner and will be “thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur” (v. 20). Revelation 20:10 states: “The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever.” Daniel 7:11 prophesized: “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.”

Eternal punishment awaits Satan, the beast, and the prophet. The beast’s armies “were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider of the horse” (v. 21).

CLOSING

Jesus will reign in victory and defeat all who stand against Him and the armies of Heaven get to join Him. He does all of the fighting on behalf of His people.

  1. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005), p. 2030.

  2. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999), p. 1761.

  3. MacArthur, p. 2031.

  4. MacArthur, p. 2031.

  5. Nelson’s Commentary, p. 1762.

  6. MacArthur, p. 2032.

  7. MacArthur, p. 1023.

Questions

  1. The 24 elders were mentioned in several other places in Revelation (Revelation 4:4; 5:8; 11:16; 19:4). Who do you think the 24 elders might be? What Scripture did you use to back your answer up?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Revelation 19:20

“But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with him the false prophet, who had performed the signs in his presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”

After the complete destruction of Babylon, a vast multitude of voices sang hallelujah and praises to the Lord for His deliverance, judgment, and sovereignty. Then, in John’s vision, heaven opened and a rider called Faithful and True, the Word of God—yes, Jesus—came out riding on a white horse. His army of believers followed Him, and He fought the battle against the beast and the false prophet. When captured, the beast and false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. With a sword in His mouth, Jesus killed the beast’s entire army.

Allow Jesus’ victory over the beast, the false prophet, and their army serve as an encouragement to you today as you fight your own battles, not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, world powers of darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. You have victory in the Great I Am—Jesus Christ—who is coming back to defeat the enemy. But until then, hold up the sword of the spirit and shield of faith. Walk with the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation. Steadily go with the feet of peace and with truth like a belt around your waist. Stand firm. Be alert. Pray at all times. The enemy will flee when you boldly say the name of Jesus! Hallelujah! Say it again, Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God!

“But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with him the false prophet, who had performed the signs in his presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”

— Revelation 19:20

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • 1 Corinthians 15:57 — “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
  • Ephesians 6:14–18 — “Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.”
  • Revelation 19:1 — “After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying: Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God.”