Revelation Chapter 19 (Part 1)

John’s Vision of the Future Continues

In chapters 16, 17 & 18 John see the final judgments of Yahweh resulting in the destruction of Babylon - the events on Earth

In chapter 19 verses 1-10 we see what was transpiring in Heaven as the judgments come to a close - the events in Heaven

We have 10 verses of praise in the first half of chapter 19 - before the second coming (v11)

Psalm 100:4 “4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

Rejoicing in Heaven

Revelation 19:1–4 “1 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” 3 Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!””

The first praise is Trinitarian - Salvation, Glory, Power

Alleluia is the Greek form of the Hebrew Hallelujah and occurs twenty- four times in the Old Testament and four times in the New Testament. The Hallelujah chorus is sung for three reasons: God has judged His enemies (Rev 19:1-4)

The Chorus continues - God is Reigning

Revelation 19:5–6 “5 And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.”

The Chorus continues - the Bride is ready

Revelation 19:7–10 “7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride (Wife) has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

The Bride \ Wife is introduced as ready

Who is the Bride \ Wife?

2 Corinthians 11:2 “2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.”

Where is the Bride \ Wife?

Where did she become ready?

Where is she married?

Remember the pattern in the scriptures - Rebecca & Rachel & Ruth & Ester

When did she make herself ready?

The process begins with a betrothal - our trust in Him as Lord and Savior

What follows will be measured prior to marriage

We can understand this by understanding the balance between faith and works.

James 2:17 “17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Philippians 2:12–13“12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Thus, she made herself ready by the power of God working in her.

Her Clothing, Garments

Revelation 19:8 “8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”

Where did the garments come from?

Ephesians 5:25–27 “25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”

What are the Righteous deeds of the Saints?

There is a distinction between the Righteousness of Christ which is imparted to us by Jesus and the righteous deeds of the saints referenced in v8

Paul describes these deed in 1 Corinthians 3:12–15 “12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

This is the BEMA seat judgment we will all face

Let’s put these two Righteousness’ together

Isaiah 61:10“10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Who is invited to the Marriage Supper?

Revelation 19:9 “9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.””

Those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb are blessed because the supper will take place in the kingdom of God:

“Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, ‘Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ ” (Luke 14:15)

Jesus’ response to the faith of the Roman centurion (a Gentile) indicates who was invited:

When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mat. 8:10-12)

The “sons of the kingdom” are the Jews. They are the ones who were initially invited to the marriage supper, but refused to come. Therefore, the invitation went out to all nations (Mat. 22:2-14). The ones who are blessed are not the ones who were invited, but refused to come. They are the ones who are not only invited, but accept the invitation and turn to faith in Christ. Jesus indicated that although many would be called to the marriage feast, few were chosen (Mat. 22:14). Only the chosen ones come to faith in Christ and actually attend the feast. This includes the saints of all ages who will sit down and eat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since the bride needs no invitation to the marriage supper, those mentioned here are a separate body of saints who are not part of the church, having never been baptized into the body of Christ. They are the saved who died before the Day of Pentecost or who came to faith after the Rapture of the Church.

It is with the Marriage Feast that the Millennium will begin, . . . the invitations . . . go out to all the redeemed who are not members of the Church, i.e., the Old Testament and Tribulation saints soon to be resurrected.

John is overcome and worships the messenger

Only Yahweh is worthy of worship

It’s all about Jesus