Revelation · chapter 19 of 22
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Revelation 19 opens with hallelujahs in heaven for God's just judgment on Babylon and with the announcement of the marriage of the Lamb, whose bride has made herself ready in fine linen, which is the righteous deeds of the saints. Then heaven opens and Christ appears on a white horse, called Faithful and True, the Word of God, King of kings and Lord of lords. The beast and the false prophet are captured and thrown into the lake of fire.
After the lament over Babylon in chapter 18, heaven answers with praise. The chapter brings together two contrasting images: a wedding feast and a battle. Both show the final victory of Christ, who is at once the Bridegroom of his church and the King who judges in righteousness. Interpreters differ on the timing and manner of the battle, but they agree that history ends with the triumph of Jesus.
John hears in heaven a great multitude saying, Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just: he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth and has avenged the blood of his servants. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures worship God saying Amen, and a voice from the throne calls all his servants, small and great, to praise him (vv. 1-5).
Then a sound like many waters is heard: Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns! The marriage of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready: she is given fine linen to wear, which is the righteous deeds of the saints. An angel tells John to write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. John falls at his feet to worship him, but the angel stops him: worship belongs to God alone, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (vv. 6-10).
John sees heaven opened and a white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True, who judges and makes war in righteousness. His eyes are like a flame of fire, he wears many diadems and is clothed in a robe dipped in blood; his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven follow him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike the nations. On his robe and on his thigh is written: King of kings and Lord of lords (vv. 11-16).
An angel standing in the sun calls the birds to the great supper of God. The beast and the kings of the earth gather to make war against the rider. The beast and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire, and the rest are killed by the sword that comes from the rider's mouth (vv. 17-21).
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
The multitude proclaims: Hallelujah, for the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. The fall of Babylon leads to the recognition that God's reign was never in doubt.
The bride is given fine linen to wear, which represents the righteous deeds of the saints. Salvation is a gift, but the faithful life of believers is the garment in which they present themselves before the Lamb.
When John falls down to worship the angel, the angel stops him and tells him to worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. All of Scripture points to Christ, and worship belongs to God alone.
The rider has on his robe and on his thigh the name King of kings and Lord of lords. It is Christ's definitive title, since he reigns over every political, religious and spiritual power.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: Hallelujah: salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just. — Revelation 19:1-2
Answer: The marriage of the Lamb, and his bride has made herself ready. — Revelation 19:7
Answer: The righteous deeds of the saints. — Revelation 19:8
Answer: He stops him and tells him to worship God alone. — Revelation 19:10
Answer: Faithful and True; his name is the Word of God. — Revelation 19:11-13
Answer: King of kings and Lord of lords. — Revelation 19:16
Revelation 19 invites us to worship. The Christian faith is not only waiting for the end of evil, but rejoicing in the one who reigns. A group can set aside time for praise, remembering that heaven sings for God's justice. The image of the wedding shows that the church's destiny is communion with Christ, a feast and not a courtroom for believers.
The episode with the angel teaches that no servant of God, however special, should receive worship. We can examine whom or what we honor in ways that only God deserves. And the linen garment encourages us to live coherently: our righteous deeds are the fruit of his grace and the clothing in which we await the Bridegroom.
Revelation 19 ends with the beast and the false prophet in the lake of fire. In chapter 20 the destiny of the dragon, the thousand-year reign, the final judgment before the great white throne and the end of death are told.
It is the image of the final communion of Christ with his church, described as a wedding banquet. The prophets used the image of marriage to speak of God's relationship with his people, and Jesus used it in his parables. It is a celebration, not a threat.
The text does not use that name here, but many interpret it as the battle announced in chapter 16 with the gathering of the kings. Some see a literal future event; others, an image of Christ's triumph over evil that unfolds in history and culminates in his coming. They note that no fight is described: the rider conquers with the sword of his mouth.
It represents the word of Christ, by which he judges and conquers. It already appeared in the vision of chapter 1 and recalls Isaiah, where the righteous king strikes the earth with the rod of his mouth. His victory is by his word and not by human weapons.