Revelation 19:11-21

Revelation 19 “…behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True…” Chapter Outline: I. JOHN HEARS THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN SAYING ALLELUIA, VV. 1-3 II. THE 24 ELDERS AND THE 4 BEASTS AROUND THE THRONE SAY ALLELUIA, V. 4 III. ALL SERVANTS AND GOD FEARERS ARE CALLED TO PRAISE THE LORD, VV. 5-6 IV. THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB AND THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, VV. 7-8 V. THE FOURTH BEATITUDE OF REVELATION, VV. 9-10 I. JOHN HEARS THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN SAYING ALLELUIA, VV. 1-3 “And after these things…” A. This is a long awaited for phrase. Since chapter 6 till now we have seen the wrath of God thunder down on a world of Christ rejecters. The chapters of his wrath are behind having been summed up by the 18th chapter where we saw Babylon and all it stands for hurled as a millstone with irreversible inertia into judgment. B. We were told in the 20th verse of chapter 18 to “Rejoice over her (Babylon), O heaven, and you holy apostles1 and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" Chapter 19, in a sense, picks up that theme of rejoicing and praising God for the destruction of Babylon but then adds to the reason of rejoicing the second coming of Christ. C. These two chapters are connected by the rejoicing and jovial spirit which commenced by commandment in 18:20 and continues in chapter 19. However this chapter will also present a contrast to us. In 18 we saw a whore with all her entrapments abased by Godʼs wrath. In 19 we see the Bride of Christ glistening in fine linen robes prepared for the marriage supper of the Lamb. And so we see a complete shift of gears and change of tone as we come to this long waited for phrase, “And after these things…” D. As J. Vernon McGee said, that chapter 19 “marks a dramatic change in the tone of Revelation. The destruction of Babylon, the capital of the Beastʼs kingdom, marks the end of the Great Tribulation. The somber gives way to song. The transfer is from darkness to light, from black to white, from dreary days of judgment to bright days of blessing. This chapter makes a definite bifurcation in Revelation, and ushers in the greatest event for this earth–the Second Coming of Christ. It is the bridge between the great tribulation and the millennium.”2 “…I heard a great voice of much people in heaven…” A. The phrase “much people” in the greek is the same phrase as is found in chapter 7:9 where it says “a great multitude.” B. These whom John hears were no doubt the martyred saints of the tribulation. We also see this same group in chapter 6:9-11. “ 9. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them 1 NU-Text and M-Text read saints and apostles. 2 Reveling Through Revelation, II, pg. 66. Taken for these notes from The Revelation Record, John F. Walvoord, pg. 268 2 that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11. And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.” C. The cry of these saints in chapter 6 is how long will it be till you (God) will avenge us. In the chapter before us now we see the time come for the saints to see judgment given and vengeance exacted on the world which rejected their Christ and which put them to death. “…saying, Alleluia…” A. This most pleasant word in song and speech only occurs here in the entire NT. In fact we see this word no less than 4 times in this chapter. The fact that these 4 Alleluias are clustered like vibrant shining stars into a single chapter in the NT can only tell us one thing–that the circumstances in this chapter are of remarkable and utmost importance to the reader. B. The meaning of the word is “praise the Lord.” The Hebrew is hallelujah “…Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:” A. The tone of the praise (alleluia) is one of ascribing the Salvation, the glory, the honor and the power unto the Lord. The much people in heaven had one voice, i.e. they were in unison together, as they worshiped the Lord and ascribed all these attributes wholly and only to God. B. As they worshiped the Lord for who he was there was an incredible unity. In heaven this is just the way things will be. We are told that for now “we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Cor 13:12). Then, when we arrive in heaven, we will not have any more troubling questions. All things will be placed in their proper perspective and there will only be praising the Lord on our mind. No one, including you and me, will ever have a complaint or be able to even to notice something that would cause us to complain or ask why. In heaven our gaze will not only fixed on the Lord but it will be completely crystalized as well. Remember we see at present through a glass, darkly; but then face to face! C. Even though our sight wonʼt be completely focused until heaven that doesnʼt give us an excuse now to be bickering and divisive in the body of Christ. We are told in many places not to murmur or be divisive even as we are still here on earth. 1. Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without murmurings and disputings:” 3 …we are told how this heavenly attitude is possible in the same epistle… 2. Philippians 4:12-13 “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” …can we truthfully sing this hymn? When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul. …when our gaze is upon him and not ourselves, yes we really will be able to sing it! D. Just as in heaven our focus will be fixed on the Lord so too now we need to do the same. And in so doing we will be “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). Focusing on our problems, or trying to figure out why are both stumbling blocks that when we stumble over them will inevitably turn our focus away from the Lord and on to ourselves and in that moment we will seriously struggle to walk in unity one with another. E. “the Salvation,” 1. There is not salvation found anywhere else but in Christ our God. a) Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” 4 b) John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” c) 1 Timothy 2:5-6 “For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” d) 1 John 5:11-12 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 2. This salvation which belongs only to him we are told is eternally complete a) 2 Cor 1:10 “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;” (1) Delivered…past…saved (2) Doth deliver…present…sanctification (3) Will yet deliver us…future…glorification F. “the glory” 1. All glory in heaven is given to the Lord. There will be no one trying to pointg out themselves as they stand before the throne. G. “the honor” 1. The one who is so duly worthy of honor will one day receive honor as he should. H. “the power” 1. All power will be recognized as his alone. Not only might but authority too. Later in this chapter after the fourth Alleluia we will read “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” “For true and righteous [are] his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.” A. All in heaven will agree that all of Godʼs ways, all of His wrath, all of HIs mercy, all of His decrees were and are and ever will be true and righteous. 5 B. “True” 1. “That which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine” 3 2. Godʼs ways not only seem right but they are in reality right. They are true, genuine and not fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended. C. “Righteous” 1. Godʼs ways are just i.e based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair. They are innocent, faultless, guiltless without blame in any way. 2. “In a narrower sense, rendering to each his due and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others, whether expressed in words or shown by the manner of dealing with them” 4 D. At this time, all in heaven are praising God because the world system, which is that whore who tormented the world since ages past, has been utterly and eternally destroyed. At this point many ancient prophecies of the Messiah coming to rule and reign will be fulfilled! Prophecies such as… 1. Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 2. Daniel 2:34-35 “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.Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” 3 Thayerʼs Lexicon, http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G228&t=KJV 4 Thayerʼs Lexicon, http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1342&t=KJV 6 II. THE ALLELUIA OF THE 24 ELDERS AND THE 4 LIVING CREATURES AROUND THE THRONE, V. 4 “And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.” A. These in verse 4 (the elders and the living creatures) are made note of praising God separately from the “much people” above. This is because the elders represent the raptured church who have been observing from heaven the havoc that the Babylonish system at itʼs zenith has been wreaking on the tribulation saints. The “much people” above are those, as already mentioned above, that were of or came out of the tribulation by way of martyrdom. III. ALL SERVANTS AND GOD FEARERS ARE CALLED TO PRAISE THE LORD, VV. 5-6 “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” A. “Praise” 1. Is the present tense and is therefor a command to keep on praising God. B. “Servants” 1. We should be these. The Bible refers to Christʼs followers as servants. 2. The word in greek is doulos which speaks of “one who gives himself up to another's will. Those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men” It also speaks of one who is “devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests” 5 3. To be at His feet serving is the most high place! C. “Fear” 1. The true servant of God fears God. This phrase can be better read “Keep on praising our God, all servants who fear Him, small and great!” 2. The Bible talks about the fear of the Lord and iyt always means one thing–to fear him. Fearing the Lord is to give Him holy reverence but it is also to fear 5 Thayerʼs Lexicon, http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1401&t=KJV 7 Him. 3. The word in greek is phobeō and we get our english word phobia or phobic from this word. It means a) b) c) d) to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away) to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm struck with amazement to fear, be afraid of one …and also… e) to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience 4. To fear the Lord is a healthy thing. We could all use a strong does of it each and every day. a) Psalm 19:9 “The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether.” b) Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.” c) Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” d) Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.” e) Jeremiah 2:19 “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear [is] not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” et al 5. To fear the Lord for the christian is not a tormenting thing. a) 1 John 4:17-19 “17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.” …contrasted with a tormenting fear… b) Hebrews 2:15 “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” 8 IV. THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB AND THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, VV. 7-8 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 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.” A. “Let us be glad and rejoice…” 1. We are given 4 reasons why we should be glad and rejoice (1) For true and righteous [are] his judgments: (2) for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. (3) for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (4) for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. B. “…the marriage of the Lamb is come…” 1. God does things differently than we do. In this wedding of all weddings the groom is the focal point not the Bride. Here comes the groom is the tune that will be sung! C. “…his wife hath made herself ready.” 1. This is an interesting statement because how do we the church, His bride make, make ourselves ready for this day? 2. We see in the next verse what amazing grace has been bestowed on us as His bride in order to be made ready. It says “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of saints.” V. THE FOURTH BEATITUDE OF REVELATION, VV. 9-10 “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” A. There are seven beatitudes in the Book of Revelation this is the fourth we have come to. 1. Rev 1:3 9 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Rev 14:13 Rev 16:15 Rev 19:9 Rev 20:6 Rev 22:7 Rev 22:14 B. Marriage 1. In those days marriage was a lot different. It was in three main parts. (1) The contract–This was arranged by the parents when the children were very young. If when you met or were introduced to your future spouse you liked the way they looked and could see yourself easily loving this person that was extra. Marriage then had little to do with romance and the warm-fuzzy feelings as it did commitment. Your spouse was chosen for you and the commitment was then to be made to the one who was chosen for you. (2) The espousal and wedding–This occurred a year before the wedding and during this time the groom would be building an addition on to his fathers house which after the wedding day would become the couples new home. The hebrew on this addition speaks of a little mansion… In John 14:1-3 Jesus used this language as He spoke to His disciples. Ephesians 1:13-14 speak of our engagement to Christ. The earnest has the idea of guarantee. It is arrabon in the greek and means even in modern time troth i.e. A solemn pledge of commitment or loyalty, esp. in marriage. On the day of the wedding the groom would come unannounced with his groomsmen to get his bride. She had to live in expectancy and in readiness. He would then take her away to the addition that he made and hide her away in intimacy and consummate the marriage. This is our scene here in Revelation. When the seven days were up He would bring her out and present her at the wedding feast. Matt 25:1-13. (3) The wedding supper or feast. John 2:1-12. “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 that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” 10