SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 19
VERSE PRAISING GOD:
“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. (Revelation 19:7)
HALLELUJAH! (vs. 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 forever and ever.”
The twenty our 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. 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.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
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.”
THE RIDER ON THE WHITE HORSE (vs. 11-16)
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 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. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horse and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.!”
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophets who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image the two of them were thrown alive into the fiery take of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
THOUGHTS: (From Life Application Study Bible)
Praise is the heartfelt response and true worship to God by those who love Him. A vast crowd in heaven initiates the chorus of praise to God for his victory. Then the 24 elders join the chorus and the great choir of heaven praises God. The judgment of the wicked and the wedding of the Lamb and his bride, the church, which consist s of all faithful believers has culminated. The bride’s bright and clean clothing represents the good deeds done by the believers.
When the heavens open, Jesus appears – this time not as a Lamb but as a warrior on a white horse. Jesus came first as a Lamb to be sacrificed for sin, but he will return as conqueror and king to execute judgment. Jesus’ first coming brought forgiveness; his second coming will bring judgment. The battle lines have been drawn between God and evil, and the world is waiting for the King to ride onto the field.
The battle lines have been drawn. The greatest confrontation of the beast (the Antichrist) against God has begun. The beast and the false prophets have gathered the governments and armies of the earth under the Antichrist’s rule. But God has captured them and sent them to their punishment and the forces of evil are annihilated.
The lake of fire that burns with sulfur is the final destination of the wicked. This lake is different from the bottomless pit. The Antichrist and the false prophets are thrown into the lake of fire. TY hen their leader, Satan himself will be thrown into that lake and finally death and the grave. And everyone whose name is not recorded in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire.
SUMMARY OF REVELATION19 (By Warren Wiersbe)
- Celebration (vs. 1-6) Sinners cry “Alas” but saints shout “Hallelujah!” at the fall of the godless world system called Babylon. Sin has been judged. God’s servants have been vindicated. God has been glorified, and Christ is about to usher in His kingdom. While you anticipate these victories, by faith, you can shout “Hallelujah!”
- Proclamation (vs. 7-10, 17-21) Two contrasting suppers are named in this chapter: the marriage supper of the Lamb (v. 9) which brings blessing, and the “supper of the great God” (vs. 17-21), which brings judgment. The bride makes herself ready at the judgment seat of Christ where her “spots and wrinkles” are taken away and she receives rewards for faithful service. In contrast, the godless armies of earth are defeated by the Lord and become food for the birds. This is the battle of Armageddon mentioned in Revelation 16:16.
- Revelation (vs. 11- 16) The conquering Christ comes with His armies and defeats all His enemies!. Contrast this with His ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and review the Father’s promises in Psalm 2. Also contrast it with the ride of the Antichrist (6:1-2). It encourages us to know that our Savior is today King of kings and Lord of lords, and that the future is secure because He is reigning.