The 19th chapter breaks down as follows:
1. Scenes in Heaven Just Before the Second Coming of Christ – Revelation 19:1-3
2. The Voice of the Twenty-four Elders Praising God – Revelation 19:4
3. The Voice From the Throne Commanding Praise from All – Revelation 19:5
4. The Voice of the Great Multitude in Reply – Revelation 19:6
5. The Marriage of The Lamb and the Redeemed – Revelation 19:7-9
6. John Falls Prostrate – Revelation 19:10
7. The Seventh Dispensation: the Divine Government, the Millennium – Revelation 19:11-14
8. The Battle of Armageddon – Revelation 19:15
9. The Commander in Chief of the Heavenly Armies of Armageddon – Revelation 19:16
10. Armageddon Symbolized by a Great Supper – Revelation 19:17
11. The Supper Foretold – Revelation 19:18
12. The Supper Gathered – Revelation 19:19
13. The Supper Eaten – Revelation 19:20-21
The 18th chapter of Revelation concludes all the great judgments on planet earth. The 19th chapter gives us a brief look at the Battle of Armageddon and the Coming of The Lord, which will begin the great thousand-year reign of Christ.
Scenes in Heaven Just Before the Second Coming of Christ – Revelation 19:1-3
In the first verse, John reveals things that are taking place in Heaven immediately preceding the Second Coming of Christ. Immediately prior to the Second Coming, there will be a glorious shout of victory in Heaven and rightfully so. All of the prayers of the saints of God that have been praying for the Second Coming are about to be answered. The Great prayer of Jesus that we commonly call “The Lord’s Prayer” will finally be answered as God’s will is done on earth as it is in Heaven. This has been the cry from the beginning, “Oh Lord, that Your will be done on this planet and in its Heaven.”
Many have erroneously taught that the church is going to make the world better and better until finally Jesus Christ comes back. As I think is obvious from the book of Revelation, this is not the case at all. “…in the last days perilous times shall come.” (2 Timothy 3:1)
The situation is not going to gradually improve. It is going to get worse. His Kingdom on earth will be brought about, not by the power of the church but by the power of the coming of Christ. Daniel portrayed it very graphically in his book, “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.” (Daniel 2:34)
The stone symbolizes the Kingdom of Heaven headed by The Lord Jesus Christ, Who will, at His Second Coming, destroy the kingdoms of this world. Christ Himself is called a “Stone” in Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:6-8.
The phrase "without hands” is an expression emphasizing the absence of all human instrumentality and the act of God alone. The church is a called-out group made up of every individual born again by faith in the atoning, precious shed blood of The Lord Jesus Christ. This called-out group serves as “salt”, which makes the world a better place to live. However, it will not subdue the evil powers of this world. That will be done only by the Stone coming from Heaven and smashing the kingdom of this planet and of Jesus Christ setting up His Kingdom. This is the reason for the great congregation in Heaven shouting, “Alleluia.”
In verse 2, it is mentioned that He "judged the great whore”, which speaks of every false way of salvation which has persecuted the true child of God. And once again, they will shout, “Alleluia” as they see the smoke of literal Babylon rising, denoting her destruction, symbolic of all rebellion against God. The fact that there are "much people in heaven” proves that they have been caught up in time for the marriage of The Lamb. This contradicts the theory that there will be no rapture of saints to Heaven ,as well as the theory that the marriage supper of The Lamb will be held in the air after Christ raptures the saints.
At the Rapture, the saints will go immediately to Heaven where they will remain during the last seven years of this age and during the Great Tribulation period. The marriage supper of The Lamb will be conducted in Glory at the time the Great Tribulation period is taking place on the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Eight events will take place in Heaven between the Rapture of The Church and the Second Coming of The Lord:
1. Presentation of the Saints Before God – Ephesians 5:27; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:13
2. Saints Declared Blameless – 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 5:23
3. Settlement in Mansions – John 14:1-3; Hebrews 11:10-16, 13:14; Revelation 3:12
4. Judgment of Saints – Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11
5. Regular Worship – Revelation 19:1-9; Luke 22:16-18
6. Routine of Living – Luke 22:29-30; John 14:1-3; Revelation 1:6; 1 Corinthians 2:9
7. Marriage of The Lamb – Revelation 19:1-9
8. Preparation for the Second Advent, The Battle of Armageddon, and the Establishment of an Eternal Government on Earth – Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-10; Zechariah 14
The Voice of the Twenty-four Elders Praising God – Revelation 19:4
Verses 1 through 7 constitute Heavenly worship:
1. The Worship of Angels and Redeemed – verses 1-3
2. The Worship of the Living Creatures and Twenty-four Elders – verse 4
3. Command for Angels and Redeemed to Worship – verse 5
4. Worship of Angels and Redeemed – verses 6-7
The Book of Revelation portrays worship in Heaven as in no other book of the Bible. Almost every time the scene unfolds in Heaven, we see Heavenly worship. This should be a lesson for the child of God.
The Voice From the Throne Commanding Praise from All – Revelation 19:5
So, here we have a voice that comes from the Throne commanding praise to God. No one is exempt. If the child of God in Heaven is commanded to praise God, the child of God on earth is commanded to praise God as well. Truly, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalm 150:6)
The Voice of the Great Multitude in Reply – Revelation 19:6
I think one can say, without fear of contradiction, that this is a Pentecostal meeting. The praises are so loud that they sound like Niagara, the voice of many waters of thundering. That should be rebuke to praiseless churches. That should be a rebuke to praiseless preachers and praiseless Christians. We are even told they are saying, “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” Oh, what a statement! Satan does not reign. The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth, and He is all powerful.
The Marriage of The Lamb and the Redeemed – Revelation 19:7-9
Now we are told “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him”. There is nothing here to be sad about. It is joy, glory, and victory. By faith, this is exactly the way we should conduct ourselves now, joy, glory, and victory.
The seventh verse tells of the marriage of The Lamb. Then, it speaks of His wife. The question must be asked “Who is His wife?” His wife is the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-10). The New Jerusalem is made up of saints of all ages from Abel to the last one in the first resurrection who will live in New Jerusalem forever. We are told that the New Jerusalem will be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. That is a symbolic statement denoting the righteousness of the saints of God who will occupy New Jerusalem. Some people use the 9th verse of Revelation 19 to teach that there are various classes of redeemed, some, the bride, some, the redeemed, some, the guests and some, the servants. This is erroneous. This verse simply means that all the redeemed are called to the marriage feast of The Lamb. All are the inhabitants of New Jerusalem. Therefore, all are a part of the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
The marriage supper of The Lamb is mentioned only in verses 7 and 9 of this chapter. All we know about it is revealed here. Some try to force Psalm 45, Matthew 22, or even Matthew 25:1-13 into these two Scriptures. However, there is no definite connection between these Scriptures. We are simply told “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
John Falls Prostrate – Revelation 19:10
The word “angel” is used interchangeably between God, men, and those referred to as angels. John falls at the feet of this angel to worship him. He is told that he is not God but a fellowservant and one of the brethren. Who could this be? It could be any person who lived from the beginning to John’s day. Whoever he was, John did not seem to recognize him. We learn that we are to worship only God. We are not to worship angels. We are not to worship other saints. We are not to worship the virgin Mary. John is firmly told “thou do it not”. How many in the church today worship angels? How many worship the virgin Mary? Many claim they are not worshiping when they pray to saints, relics, angels, or the virgin Mary. But actually, prayer is a form of worship. If we pray to anyone but God in the Name of Jesus (John 16:23,) and we worship anyone except God, which includes The Lord Jesus Christ, we are committing sin.
The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy, which is The Holy Spirit. The prophecies abound in the Old Testament, inspired by the Holy Spirt, pointing to the coming of Christ (His First Advent).
The Seventh Dispensation: the Divine Government, the Millennium – Revelation 19:11-14
We are given a preview of the assemblage of saints with The Lord Jesus Christ, which institutes the Second Coming. In Revelation 6:2, the white horse is ridden by the antichrist. The white horse in Revelation 19:11 is ridden by The Lord Jesus Christ. The antichrist is riding the white horse symbolically in his efforts to take over the world. He will fail. Here, Christ rides a white horse. He will take over the world. He will not fail.
Jesus is called “Faithful and True”. He will judge and make war. The battle of Armageddon is about to commence. The Lord will rid the earth of all rebellion and restore God’s kingdom as before the fall of man.
Now, we are given a description of Christ. His eyes are as flames of fire. On his head were many crowns, not only one crown, but many. He will not be Lord of just one realm, He will be The Lord of all realms. He will have a name mentioned in the Bible, a name that no one had ever heard before. His clothing will be dipped or baptized in blood. It will signify the price He paid for the redemption of mankind. He will actually have three names.
1. A Name that no one knows – verse 12
2. The Word of God – verse 13
3. KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS – verse 16
The armies mentioned in verse 14 constitute all of the redeemed and the resurrected saints of all ages and of all angels in Heaven. They, too, (we) will ride white horses. We will be clothed in linen white and clean, which the Scripture says “is the righteousness of saints.” That righteousness is not our own. It was paid for by the blood that stained His vesture.
The Battle of Armageddon – Revelation 19:15
Many nations will join with the antichrist in the battle of Armageddon. The Lord, with the sword that protrudes out of His mouth (symbolic), will smite these nations. He will, then, rule the entire world with the rod of iron, simply meaning:
1. He will be KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS
2. He will not allow sin to continue
3. He will not tolerate rebellion of any kind
4. He will rule the nations personally
The horrible bloodletting at Armageddon is spoken of by The Holy Spirit as a “winepress”. The Spirit tells us that the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God will be poured out on those who oppose The Lord at the battle of Armageddon. This battle will take place at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation period and the beginning of the Millennial Reign. At this time, The Lord will deliver the Jews from the antichrist. He will lift the siege of Jerusalem that is surrounded by the armies of all nations under the antichrist. Armageddon will not be an ordinary battle or series of battles between two earthly nations. It will be a battle with Christ and His armies along with Israel and her allies on the one side and the antichrist and his allies on the other side. The antichrist, more than likely, will not know or understand that Christ Himself is going to interrupt this great battle and destroy him (the antichrist along with the armies with him).
The Commander in Chief of the Heavenly Armies of Armageddon – Revelation 19:16
Jesus Christ will be the Commander in Chief of all the Heavenly armies at Armageddon. His vesture will not only be dipped in blood, but on it will be the title “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS”. From the very beginning, man has sought to usurp authority over the claims of Christ. Satan, as well, has labored for thousands of years to usurp God’s authority. But, once and for all, Jesus Christ is coming back, and there will be no doubt as to Who He is. When He came the first time, He was ridiculed, rejected, laughed at, spit upon, beaten, and crucified. When He comes back the second time without sin unto salvation, He will not come back to be beaten, to be spit upon, to be crucified, but He will come back crowned KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Hallelujah!
Armageddon Symbolized by a Great Supper – Revelation 19:17
This is an announcement by the angel as he calls Armageddon “the supper of the great God”. Ezekiel said it would take seven months to bury the dead (Ezekiel 39:11-12). Five sixths of the armies of the antichrist will be destroyed (Ezekiel 39:2). So many will be killed that the stench will go up from the land before all the bodies can be buried (verse 11).
The angel is portraying what Ezekiel prophesied in his Chapter 39. It refers to the calling of all the birds and beasts of the field to eat the dead bodies of men and the animals killed in the battle of Armageddon. Both passages speak of “the supper”, “the great sacrifices”, and “My table” that God will make upon the mountains of Israel, where the birds and beasts may come to eat until they are full and drink until they are drunken. Jesus referred to this when He said, “For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered…” (Matthew 24:28-31) and “…Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.” (Luke 17:37).
This could not possibly refer to a war, as some teach, before the battle of Armageddon, such as between Russia and Israel. It refers only to the battle of Armageddon, when Christ comes literally to the planet earth with His angels and resurrected saints to take over the governance of the world and reign over them eternally, as described in so many passages.
The Supper Foretold – Revelation 19:18
Here we are told that the many captains and mighty men will gather at the battle of Armageddon, with the antichrist, to oppose Jesus Christ. In effect, it says their flesh will be given to the beasts of the fields and the fowls of the air. From the beginning of time, men have used this term speaking of great victories. They have talked about giving the flesh of their opponents to the fowls of the air. Here, at the battle of Armageddon, this will be done as it has never been done in history. The Stone will truly smite the nations of the earth.
The Supper Gathered – Revelation 19:19
As Zechariah and Ezekiel described the battle of Armageddon, the antichrist will not realize that he is making war against The Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord said the same thing to Paul on the road to Damascus at the time of his conversion, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4) Paul had no idea he was persecuting Christ when he was persecuting the church, but this is what he was doing. The antichrist will not consider himself to be fighting against Jesus Christ, but when he endeavors to make war against Israel, which he will, he will actually be making war against Christ and all of His saints. As far as the antichrist is concerned, this will be the “final solution.” What Haman, Herod, and Hitler could not do, Gog will do. He will block Israel from the face of the earth. He will annihilate these strange people that will remind the world of God.
At this time, Israel is in a state of rebellion away from God, as she has been for so very long. But still, there are promises God has made to Israel, and He keeps His promises. Even though so many of them are lost, He still refers to them as “His people”. When anyone touches anything that belongs to God, they have touched God. “…Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” (1 Chronicles 16:22) God can touch them and chastise them at His pleasure, but woe be to the individual who tries to put himself in the place of God and touches the Lord’s anointed.
The Supper Eaten – Revelation 19:20-21
The antichrist and the false prophet will be two mortal men who will be killed at Armageddon (Daniel 7:11; Isaiah 11:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9). Their bodies will be resurrected and cast into eternal hell (Daniel 7:11).
Verse 21 tells us that the armies of the antichrist will be slain by The Lord Jesus Christ. This will happen several ways.
1. By the brightness of Christ’s coming
2. By angels (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9)
3. Saints (Revelation 19:14; Jude 14; Zechariah 14:5)
4. Cloudburst (Ezekiel 38:22)
5. Great Hailstones (Revelation 16:21; Ezekiel 38:22)
6. Fire and Brimstone (Ezekiel 38:22)
7. Pestilence and blood (Ezekiel 38:22)
8. Jewish Army (Zechariah 14:14)
9. Self-destruction (Zechariah 14:13)
10. Christ’s sword (Revelation 19:15-21; Isaiah 11:4)
Praise
1 And after these things
-pertains specifically to Chapter 18 but also the entire book of Revelation in a broader sense
I heard a great voice of much people in heaven,
-proclaims “Praise” which is the exact opposite of what is happening on earth
saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
-The song here, and it is a song, does not begin with ascribing “salvation unto God” as the English version suggests. It, rather, affirms the fact, “The Salvation is God’s. It is the echo of the ancient utterance. Salvation belongs unto God.”
2 For true and righteous are his judgments:
-Neither man nor spirit beings, in all honesty, can fault God for what He has done regarding the system of this world.
for he hath judged the great whore,
-pertains to every false way of salvation, irrespective of what it might be. No matter how beautiful it might look outwardly, The Lord refers to it as the “great whore.”
which did corrupt the earth with her fornication,
-This refers to all the religions of the world and for all time. However, it also refers to the fact that, if the preacher is not preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified as the answer to man’s dilemma, then, in some manner, he is preaching and projecting a type of “spiritual fornication”. (Romans 7:1-4)
and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
-Almost all of the persecution against the true saints of God in this world and for all time has come from apostate religion. It started with Cain in Genesis Chapter 4.
3 And again they said, Alleluia.
-This “praise of The Lord” is because of the destruction of the literal city of Babylon. The ‘Alleluia” in verse 1 was proclaimed concerning the destruction of the mystery Babylon.
And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
-proclaims the fact that her judgment is eternal
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts (living ones) fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne,
-The twenty-four elders represent all the redeemed of all ages. They are, in fact, twenty-four men. The “four living ones” represent the creation of God and how that creation can now serve its full purpose as originally intended.
saying, Amen; Alleluia.
-This “Alleluia” signals the end of all evil and the beginning of all righteousness.
5 And a voice came out of the throne,
-is silent regarding the identity
saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
-Every true believer will praise The Lord and should do so continually.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude,
-This “great multitude” consists of every single believer who has ever lived from Abel to the last one saved in the Great Tribulation.
and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings,
-This is praise that expresses itself and not merely the thoughts of a silent heart.
saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
-This “Alleluia” pertains to The Lord reigning as King and doing so forever. Satan does not reign. The Lord God omnipotent reigns, and He is “all powerful.”
7 Let us be glad and rejoice,
-All the redeemed are about to be joined in Holy Matrimony to The Lamb Who has saved them.
and give honour to him:
-God has made it possible for mankind to be redeemed, and He did so through the sacrifice of His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.
for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
-This presents a scene that will take place in Heaven immediately before The Second Coming. The “wife.” is the redeemed of all ages.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
-The “fine linen” is symbolic of “righteousness”, which is afforded by what Christ did at The Cross.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.
-The man speaking to John says this. The word “Lamb” is used, signifying that all of this is made possible because of what Jesus did at The Cross.
And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
-This refers, again, to the fact that all of this is made possible by what Jesus did regarding His finished work at The Cross.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren
-As is obvious here, this is a man. He looked so much like Jesus because of His glorified form that John thought it was Jesus. In a sense, this tells us what all saints will look like in the coming resurrection.
that have the testimony of Jesus:
-presents the fact that the ministry of The Holy Spirit is to testify to Christ and of Christ
worship God:
-tells us in these two words that we are not to worship angels, saints, or the virgin Mary
for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
-This “testimony” is His atoning work, i.e., what He did at The Cross. Every “prophecy” of the Old Testament points in some way to Christ and what He did at The Cross. As well, every proclamation presently uttered must, in some way, point to the Cross of Christ.
The Second Coming
11 And I saw heaven opened,
-records the final prophetic hour regarding the Second Coming, without a doubt, the greatest moment in human history
and behold a white horse;
-in effect, proclaims a war horse (Zechariah 14:3)
and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True,
Faithful to His promises and True to His judgments. He contrasts with the false messiah of Revelation 6:2 who was neither faithful nor true.
and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
-refers to the manner of His Second Coming
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire,
-represents judgment
and on his head were many crowns;
-represents the fact that He will not be Lord of just one realm. He will be Lord of all realms.
and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
-not meaning that it is unknown, but rather, it is definitely unknowable. It will remain unreachable to man, meaning that its depths can never be fully plumbed.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:
-speaks of The Cross where He shed His life’s blood, which gives Him the right to judge the world
and his name is called The Word of God.
-His revealed name is The Word of God, for He revealed God in His grace and power to make Him known. So, the believer can say, “I know Him.”
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses,
-These armies are the saints of God, in fact, all the saints who have ever lived, meaning, we will be with Him at the Second Coming.
clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
-harks back to verse 8. It is the righteousness of the saints, all made possible by The Cross.
Armageddon
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword,
-represents Christ functioning totally and completely in the realm of the Word of God
that with it he should smite the nations:
-refers to all the nations that will join the antichrist in his efforts to destroy Israel. It is the battle of Armageddon.
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron:
-refers to the fact that the Lord of Glory will not allow or tolerate, in any shape, form, or fashion, that which “steals, kills, and destroys”
and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
-refers to the battle of Armageddon
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
-proclaims the fact that there will be no doubt as to Who Jesus Christ actually is
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun;
-proclaims the fact that faith believes what is written, even if the mind cannot comprehend what is written
and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven,
-denotes supremacy over the creation
Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
-This is symbolic, but it is spoken in this way to proclaim the magnitude of that coming time (Ezekiel 39:2,11-12).
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
-This proclaims the fact that the power of Almighty God does not blink at those on this earth who consider themselves to be “great”. The judgement will be identical for all (Ezekiel 39:18-20).
19 And I saw the beast,
-John saw the antichrist leading this mighty army. This is the “man of sin” mentioned by Paul in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2.
and the kings of the earth, and their armies,
-refers to all the antichrist could get to join him. It includes the “kings of the east” of Revelation 16:12.
gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
-refers to Christ and the great army of Heaven which is with Him. This is the battle of Armageddon (Ezekiel Chapters 38-39).
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him,
-refers to both of them falling in the battle of Armageddon
with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image.
-pertains to satan’s chief weapon, which is deception
These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
-Thus is the destiny of the antichrist and the false prophet and all who follow them
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth:
-The Lord Jesus Christ will speak the Word in the battle of Armageddon, and whatever He speaks will take place.
and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
-proclaims the end of this conflict. The antichrist and his hoards will announce to the world what they are going to do regarding Israel, but the end result will be buzzards gorging on their flesh.
The Book of Revelation
Chapter 19
Revelation
Chapter 19
Key:
Scripture is in BLACK FONT
Words of Jesus in RED FONT
Notes in BLUE FONT