Revelation # 29 Revelation 19:1-21

Introduction

When we began our study of Revelation, we saw Jesus Christ’s message to the seven churches of Asia. When we got to chapter 4-5 we got a glimpse into the throne room of heaven as we were introduced to the one who is worthy to open the seals!

Chapter 6 brought us back to earth where we saw the judgment of God upon the wicked as it looked from earth and from heaven. The opening of the seven seals, followed by the trumpets and the pouring out of God’s wrath from the bowls. This culminated in the destruction of Babylon, that great city, that world system that was empowered by Satan and set up by Antichrist, the beast.

Tonight as we arrive in chapter 19, we are brought back to see what is going on in heaven in celebration of salvation and judgment on earth.

Rejoicing in Heaven vs. 1-10

There was a command to rejoice back in Rev. 18:20 “20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!””

Alleluia is the Greek form of the word Hallelujah which means “Praise Ye the LORD”. This translation is used 24 times in Psalms. This is said that this is the only place this appears in the English Bible. “It appears only in this chapter in the New Testament (cf. vv. 3–4, 6). The Hebrew phrase first appears in Psalm 104:35, “Let sinners be consumed from the earth and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!” In its first Old Testament appearance, as in its first New Testament appearance, Hallelujah expresses praise for God’s judgment on the wicked oppressors of His people. The Hebrew phrase is associated with God’s deliverance of His people from Egypt in Psalms 113–18, which are known collectively as the Egyptian Hallel. It is a word often associated with both the judgment of the ungodly and the salvation of God’s people.” (John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 12–22, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 2000), 196–197. )

Praise God for Redemption. vs. 1 This is more than just the salvation of mankind. Romans 8:10-23 “10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this…”

Praise God for judging His enemies vs. 2-3 (retribution)

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: The King and His Kingdom (Revelation 19–20)

Since the “great whore [harlot]” of Revelation 17 was destroyed by “the beast” and his fellow rulers (Rev. 17:16) in the middle of the Tribulation, the “great whore” referred to here must be Babylon the Great. Comparing Revelation 17:2 with 18:3 and 9, the connection is obvious. Both the apostate religious system and the satanic economic-political system led the world astray and polluted mankind. Both were guilty of persecuting God’s people and martyring many of them.

Praise God for His attributes of truth and righteousness. vs. 4

Isaiah 9:6–7 NKJV

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Jeremiah 23:5 NKJV

5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

Revelation 12–22: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Because Justice Is Meted Out

Earlier in Revelation the martyred Tribulation believers “cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ ” (Rev. 6:10). Like Isaiah and Jeremiah, they eagerly anticipated the day when God’s justice would triumph. God’s people hate sin because it mocks God and love righteousness because it exalts Him. They long for a world characterized by holiness and justice. But that will only happen when Christ establishes His righteous kingdom and rules with a rod of iron (v. 15; 2:27; 12:5; Ps. 2:9).

Praise God for His reign vs. 6 cf. Psalm 97:1 “1 The Lord reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad!”

“Thy kingdom come” is finally answered!

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: The King and His Kingdom (Revelation 19–20)

God has been reigning on the throne of heaven, but He is now about to conquer the thrones of earth as well as the kingdom of Satan and “the beast.” In His sovereignty, He has permitted evil men and evil angels to do their worst; but now the time has come for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Domitian was emperor of Rome when John was on Patmos, and one of his assumed titles was “Lord and God.” How significant it must have been, then, to John’s readers that he used the word alleluia four times in the first six verses of this chapter—truly, only Jehovah is worthy of worship and praise.

Who is Praising?

vs. 1 “great multitude” not the saints they are asked to join later. vs. 5-8

vs. 4 “24 Elders”

vs. 4 “Four living creatures”

vs. 5 “Voice from the throne” cf. Rev. 4:5

Revelation 4:5 NKJV

5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Praise God for the Marriage of the Lamb vs. 7-10

The Bride is the church cf. II Cor. 11:2 “2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” Eph. 5:22-23 “22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” John 3:29 “29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.”

What is the brides clothing? cf. Phil 2:12-13 “12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now 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 do for His good pleasure.”

Revelation 12–22: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Because the Marriage of the Lamb Is Completed

At salvation, believers were clothed with Christ’s righteousness, imputed to them (Rom. 3:21–24; 4:5; 5:19; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:8–9). But now the church is clothed with a righteousness of its own; the glorified believers are intrinsically righteous, like the holy angels. No longer will the church have only an imputed righteousness, but also then an imparted holy perfection. The promise of 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (cf. Rom. 8:19–21) is then fulfilled.

Praise God we worship Him and Him alone. John in the excitement of the moment fell down before this awesome angel to worship. He was immediately rebuked. … This angel was merely a servant as John. Then John was told, “Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ vs. 11-16

A. Names of Christ

Faithful and true cf. Rev. 1:5: 3:14

Unknown name vs. 12

Word of God vs. 13 cf. John 1:1-3, 14

King of Kings and Lord of Lords vs. 16 (sovereignty)

B. Who Accompanies Christ?

A great army

Believers cf. Jude 14-15 “14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.””

Angels Mt. 25 :41 “41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:”

cf. II Thess. 1:7-10 “7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.”

These armies will have little to do because of Christ’s power.

C. Christ’s action at the second coming. vs. 11, 15

He will judge vs. 11

Romans 2:2 “2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.” Romans 2:11 “11 For there is no partiality with God.” Rom 2:16 “16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” John 5:27 “27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” John 5:30 “30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”

cf. Mt. 25:31-46; Joel 3:9-17 .

He will make war vs. 11

He will destroy the nations vs. 15

by the word of his mouth. Sharp sword coming from his mouth. The power of Christ in salvation through the spoken word is changed now and used for destruction and judgment.

He will Rule

Rev. 20. ; Psalm 2:9 “9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”” Rev. 2:27 “27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;”

He will tread the winepress vs. 15

Isa. 63:3 “3 “I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes.” Rev. 14:19 “19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.” Rev. 14:20 “20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.” II Thess 1: 7-10.

(Cummings pg. 188)

III. The Final Battle vs. 17-21

A. an invitation to the birds vs. 17-18

Come and feast - “supper of the great God”

B. The final battle scene vs. 19

Where? Zechariah 14:2 “2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.”

Zechariah 13:8 “8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it:” Rev. 16: 6 “6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.””

Who will be there rebelling?

Psalm 2:1-9 .

Who brought the nations?

Joel 3:2 “2 I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.” Joel 3:9-16 “9 Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, Let all the men of war draw near, Let them come up. 10 Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ ” 11 Assemble and come, all you nations, And gather together all around. Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O Lord. 12 “Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. 13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is full, The vats overflow— For their wickedness is great.” 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and moon will grow dark, And the stars will diminish their brightness. 16 The Lord also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of th…” Rev. 16:16 “16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.”

Will all be partakers and then destroyed?

Rev. 20:8 “8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.” Zech 14:16 “16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.” Mt. 25:32-40 “32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you d…”

C. What do we learn about the return of Jesus Christ from these verses?

V _____________ Rev. 1:7 “7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” Zechariah 12:10 “10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

P_____________ Zech 14:3 “3 Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle.”

_______________ Mt. 24:29 “29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

___________________ Mt. 24:30 “30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” II Thess. 1:7-9 “7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”

_________________ Zechariah 14:4 “4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.”

D. Results of the battle vs. 20-21

a. Capturing of the beast and the false prophet vs. 20 (cast alive)

b. Armies are destroyed vs. 21 cf. Rev. 14:19-20 “19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.”