We begin the description of the conquering Christ. That age of visible glory is inefficacious to change the heart of man, though in the absence of the enemy and the controlling presence of the great King, they render feigned obedience for a long while. 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Commentary. . We can easily understand that the overthrow of the ecclesiastical power is necessary to leave a full field unimpeded for the imperial power to develop itself in its final form of violence and rebellion and apostacy against the Lord. But that the heart of man even so is not renewed becomes manifest, when Satan at the close deceives all that are not converted; and these, as we are told, are countless "as the sand of the sea.". It is energised for weal or for woe." So far they were right. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. There is no uncertainty whatever in the case. And they also lasted much longer. This And He is called the True witness. It is not therefore his final judgment. He is, as H. B. Swete puts it, "a royal commander followed by a dazzling retinue." Revelation 11:15-19 | Bible Exposition Commentary - Verse-by-Verse While the term bride often refers to the church, and does so here (2 Cor. "Surely I come quickly." Thus everything implies their simultaneous presence for the same time and common action with the beast, in plundering and then destroying Babylon. Of course they will be preserved through that crisis in some sort of way suitable to divine wisdom. Here is a picture which is essentially Jewish. In Daniel's time it was not at hand. He shall destroy the pride of the sinner as a potter's vessel. The Church, the Bride of Christ, is clothed in fine linen, pure and shining. It is not therefore a question of virtual idols suitable to ensnare the children of God, but of that which is adapted to the earth itself, thorough-going palpable idolatry. "And the nations shall walk in the light of it." To whom else could they say it? only place in the Bible where the word "omnipotent" occurs. * Even the Complutensian editors give the right text here; and it would seem that Erasmus failed to use his MS. aright. It was the destruction of the imperial unity of Rome that gave occasion for the well-known ten kingdoms which the barbarians set up afterwards. Revelation 19 - Wikipedia receive our inheritance, we must read the will. Too bad, your unrighteousness Friday night. He had a great desire to bring his brothers, Egyptian brothers to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. At a marriage, 2:18-19). Gods victory over a rebellious humanity and its satanic leaders is now pictured in a terrifying war (cf. The church cannot hear of Him as the bright morning star without at once desiring that He should come. Here is one of the most dramatic moments in the Revelation, the emergence of the conquering Christ. The bride breathes out this word to the bridegroom; and the Holy Ghost it is that gives strength to her desire that He should come. Revelation 19:18 Commentaries: so that you may eat the flesh of kings If so, we can define the true prophet as the man who has received from Christ the message he brings to men, and whose words and works are at one and the same time an act of witness to Christ. Thus there is no question that some of the actors in the final scenes of the great drama were already there, as the reigning city, and the Roman empire. From Rome saints had suffered; and it was easy to see that the revealed persecutress is called Babylon, and identified with the governing city of Rome. Whether it were the Old Testament saints and the church, or the Apocalyptic saints, if I may so distinguish them, it was in an instant that each were raised, but there was some space between them. Paul, the apostle said as he was recounting to the Philippians his past credits as a Jew, "Hebrew of the Hebrews, circumcised the seventh day, the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee, concerning zeal persecuting the church", but he said, "Those things that were gain to me", those credits that I had, those brownie points, "I counted loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, for whom I suffer the loss of all things and count them but refuse that I may know Him and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which was of the Law", circumcised seventh, eighth day and so forth, not having that righteousness which was of the law, "but now having the righteousness which was of Christ through faith" ( Philippians 3:5-9 ). In our day men prophecy "the end of Christs church", but Christs Word is mightier than any word that men can utter. Who are the persons thus invested with judicial authority of so glorious a nature and to reign, as we see later, with Christ? God uses them for this object,-the setting aside of her, the great religious corruptress, whose centre is found at Rome. I sometimes judge without having all the facts in hand, and so my judgments are often wrong. You have to accomplish certain works in order to be accepted by God. ", 2. That God is holding back something good and He really isn't fair to you was the insinuation behind Satan's remarks. Then, as we have seen, comes the final test of the nations of the earth after that kingdom has run its course, and the devil let loose once more deceives flesh and blood after the analogy of all other dispensations. Since then the world has not seen the imperial power to which all bow. And God said, "Let the water bring forth and let the earth bring forth." This is the Messiah of Jewish apocalyptic expectation far more than the Messiah whom Jesus claimed to be. Supposing, for instance, a drunken father: if the sons had one spark of right feeling, not only must they feel the utmost shame and pain on account of their parent, but they would endeavour (like the sons of Noah who had a due sense of what was proper to their father) to cast some mantle of love over that which they could not deny, yet would not look at, but surely above all things they would watch against that shameful sin. Here accordingly is seen but one throne. He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God Norris' Commentary on the Book of Revelation. Man on the earth has his portion in the goodness of a God who is manifesting His kingdom. His Earthly Kingdom (see article Kingdom All is then fixed. 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 Commentary. So, Jesus was at odds with the religious leaders of His day and they are the ones that prompted His crucifixion. Revelation - Explained Verse by Verse, Chapter by Chapter "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away." Revelation 19 - EasyEnglish Bible (EASY) Revelation Chapter 16 Explained - bible-studys.org As when they are the enemies of the Lords flock, for his "club" that He uses to protect them is a "rod of iron", one that will not break, and will devestate the enemy attacking His flock. The same imagery of a wedding picture's the Lord's relationship with His Church. This exclamation, meaning Praise the Lord, occurs frequently in the Old At the same time we are not at liberty to eliminate such a feature out of the description. Then follows another scene still more solemn the most awe-inspiring of all we can contemplate, at the same time full of blessing for the Christian to look onward to as that which will for ever put aside every trace of evil, and vindicate good where man must altogether fail. The marriage feast will take place on earth following Christ's return with the Isaiah 63:3. What I judge, then, is that the guests, or those that were called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb, refer clearly to the Old Testament saints. Judgment is the inescapable consequence of sin. What is it, seven hundred and fifty million degrees Fahrenheit or something like that? Any other intermediary than Jesus Christ between God and man must be utterly opposed. [Note: E.g., M. Eugene Boring, Revelation, p. 195; and Wall, pp. Revelation 19 - Jesus Returns as Conquering Lord A. frequently (4:8, 11; 5:9-12, 14; 11:16-18). Again and again the prophets thought of Israel as the chosen bride of God. After so long a tarrying how blessed! The ensigns of his authority, his coat of arms--a name written on his vesture and thigh, King of kings, and Lord of lords, asserting his authority and power, and the cause of the quarrel, Revelation 19:16; Revelation 19:16. man's day. You can't start with a finite base and reach to infinity. After the destruction of Babylon at We can fairly trust God that He will not give a worse place to Paul; yet I do not think that this is his place. Let it be carefully observed here that the first resurrection does not mean all rising exactly at the same moment. Some evade the difficulty by referring the desolation to the Gothic powers; and these Protestants, as if they were mere Praeterists! righteousness of the church, which has now been judged and purified at the Worship God!". Verse 8. The Spirit of God regards it in its final shape and completeness, as far as it was permitted to attain it, "The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls." They received their power as kings when the beast ceased to exist. Gods meting out of justice (verse 2); (3) In any real marriage there must be four things which must also be in the relationship between the Christian and Christ. Christianity tells you that your righteousness is as filthy rags. others may live (see article . The principle is very clear. That is, Satan will be the spring of its final rise and power; he, and not God in any way whatever, will give it its character. Certainly the ascription to the Lord of the fierce struggles of a human warrior is markedly avoided. III. What does Revelation 19:1 mean? | BibleRef.com She is, the mother of the harlots, but also (and with still deeper guilt) of the abominations of the earth. 4:6). The twelve apostles of the Lamb will accordingly have their own special place. With a rod of iron he shall break in pieces all their substance, He shall destroy the godless nations with the word of his. They lived, and were put therefore into a place and condition suitable for reigning with Christ, no less than the Old Testament saints and the church itself. the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, What about little babies?" The fall of Babylon being fixed, finished, and declared to be irrecoverable in the foregoing chapter, this begins with a holy triumph over her, in pursuance of the order given forth: Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets,Rev. Ephesians 6:17; smite the nations . Next comes the marriage of the Lamb to his bride. . Thus the only use that seems made of the book is negative and exclusive. Unhallowed love will end in hatred. She said, "You've had it. In other words, it is too He is saying (throw them out), they are not part of the elect. avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.". This web site explains the Book of Revelation, each individual scripture. "These shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire." They were in three distinct stages which first involved the betrothal or And after these things After this affecting representation of the certain destruction of Babylon, as the seat of the antichristian kingdom; I heard a great voice of much people in heaven A great chorus, who, with united voices, began to praise God on the occasion, saying, Alleluia That is, Praise ye Jehovah, or, He that is, and was, and is to come; a title which . "The second coming of Christ is an absolutely essential theme in New Testament theology. 3. Then there was a time of preparation as the ", All things are thus made new; and, further, "these words are faithful." Each page of scripture is from the King James Bible, and is immediately followed by . Thus the difference is complete between past history (if we look at the extinction of the empire and the rise of the ten kingdoms) and the certain fulfilment of the prophecy in the future, when we look at what God has really told us. There are a lot of people today fighting against God. The voice includes himself among those who claim God as our God. Those who are invited to the marriage supper are Israel (see article Marriage In his cross and resurrection, Christ won a great victory over the powers of evil; by his second coming, he will execute that victory. "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb. "Let him that heareth," then, "say, Come." "The nations shall walk in the light of it," Any one of spiritual judgment can see that it should not be "nations of them which are saved." Man has always sinned in one or other of these two ways, looking now at sin in its broadest forms. There stands the solemn brand graven, not on the blasphemous beast, but on the forehead of its rider, "Mystery, Babylon the great." And it was so. (i) It has been suggested that the name is kurios ( G2962) , Lord. And because of this there is great rejoicing in heaven. So here a description is given of the bride, the Lamb's wife, and we learn how it is that God will use her for unmeasured goodness and blessing and glory in the millennium, as the devil during this age has used Babylon to accomplish his wicked plans here below. "And he saith to me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." For everything in this book begins and ends in Christ. Those that do rise at the same time rise, no doubt, in a moment; but that there are to be various acts of resurrection is not only not contrary to scripture, but required by its own descriptions. God has not told us how, nor is it our business. are the ones who are praising. sound like "mighty thunderings". Had it been simply a persecution from pagans, what was there to wonder at in their deadly hatred of the truth and of those who confess it? He is the living Word, the active agent of God who expresses Gods will and carries it out. Then the book concludes after a solemn warning against either adding to or taking from its contents. Although the words are the same as in the first chapter of the Fourth Gospel, the meaning is quite different and much simpler. The horns and the beast join in hating the whore. "I Jesus sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. If they have only heard His voice, this after all is the incalculable boon; yea, it is the turning-point of all blessing. cum cdd. God doesn't want you taking credit for the work that He does, receiving glory for His work. Hence a song of praise from the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures is a Te Deum from the whole of the Church and the whole of nature. I do not suppose that many words are required by the present audience to show that we are not to understand the scene as a mere figure of Christianity. The question is, why is she thus designated? Here we see the chaste virgin come into its fullness. Those who are invited to the marriage supper are Israel (see article , ), who will turn to Christ in Up till now the visions have mainly been concerned with the power of evil and the sufferings of believers. In short, one may be described as corruption, and the other as violence. From the beginning, the church of God has been blessed with prophecy. By and by, after our translation to heaven, He will work, and as vitally in those who bow to God, when it will be the reception of the prophetic testimony which is here owned to be none the less the testimony of Jesus. (Eph. Revelation. "True and righteous are thy judgments, O Lord." This section bridges the Tribulation and the millennial kingdom. 3:12-15; 2 Cor. It is altogether unfeasible, and it shows how carelessly we read the Bible that people are not stopped by such an expression. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword ( Revelation 19:15 ). and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.". It clearly contrasts this mystery with another. "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." R. H. Charles finely says that the marriage symbolism "denotes the intimate and indissoluble communion of Christ with the community which he has purchased with his own blood" a communion which is "first reached in fulness by the host of the martyrs.". It is very evident, therefore, that the saints in a glorified state are here represented as following the Lord out of heaven. We have here a note of time of signal value. The heavenly praise continues, this time for a call for gladness, rejoicing and The person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Redeemer, is in the centre of these future events. "Called" is most evidently inapplicable, because calling supposes that the person is brought out of one condition and raised into another and a better one. For who knows not the horrors of Mariolatry? It is "His story". (verses 1-10), and returns with Christ in His Triumphal Second Coming (verses The guests also will include tribulation saints With this agrees His coming out of heaven in judgment of the earth, described inRevelation 19:1-21; Revelation 19:1-21. And he saith unto me, These are the When God is so gracious, His word rich, full, and deep, it does seem sad to see His children content with just enough to save their souls, or keep them from positive starvation. is a word to him that hears. In Asia Minor even the tribunal of the proconsul was subject to bribery and to maladministration. H. B. Swete says that this comprehensive phrase embraces "Christians of all intellectual capacities and social grades, and of all stages of progress in the life of Christ." It was but an imperfect view they got even of justification; a far scantier perception, if they could be said to have had any, about Christ's Headship of the church, His priesthood, or almost anything else. Revelation 19:1-3. "And the beast that was, and is not, even he is an eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth unto destruction." But you can go ahead and do these things without pangs of conscience trying to destroy God out of our society, out of our lives. Jesus descends majestically to judge in righteousness and rule in power. It is due to the exigency of a notion which fears and is irreconcilable with the truth in this place. For there follows another company of martyrs who suffered when the beast set up his worst and final pretensions. What is there to hinder it? Then follows the proclamation of the angel, and the invitation to the supper of the great God, to eat the flesh of all the great ones of the earth. That is the way in which H. B. Swete takes it. The bride is in view. Revelation 19:8 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine [Note: See David J. MacLeod, The Seven Last Things.] This is of immense moment doctrinally, because it decisively proves that it is altogether unfounded to assume, as is popularly done, that the Lord only returns at this juncture. First, he alone can see the inmost thoughts and desires of any man. Gates of hell can never Gainst that Church prevail. On his head he has many crowns. 13:20), and will be presented to Him at the Rapture (John God is going to be fair and just. to say enough about what Jesus has purchased for us all. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses ( Revelation 19:14 ). It is not the enjoyment of all, but it is the hinge on which all depends. And thus it was but a little glimpse they had of prophecy. . They feel Revelation relates to the battle between God and evil and between the church and the world at all times in church history. Hitherto the reverse of this has been true in history. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. What is it? There is no paradox in the message whatever. At the pouring of the seventh bowl, God's voice was heard from the Temple saying, "It is done!" (Rev. So the marriage feast of the Lamb will take place here on the earth. article Rapture). They are joined by the twenty-four elders (Revelation 4). It will be understood when one says "spiritual" that none is meant save of a wicked kind. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. "Amen," they said, "Hallelujah!" essence of all true prophecy. The church was betrothed to Christ by His sovereign choice in eternity past 13:9; Rom. Thus was concluded all dealing on the Lord's part with both soul and body, and all that pertains to either. He wants you to have a relationship with Him, a loving relationship, not a legal relationship. Now manifestly, if the Lord does not come before this, there is no world to come to; for the earth and heavens are fled. Therefore be zealous and repent. The Psalmist says of the Messianic king: "You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel" ( Psalms 2:9). This is a metaphor of the power of the gospel or of Gods spoken word (cf. Zerubbabel displays a plan of Jerusalem to Cyrus the Great by Jacob van Loo. "And when the thousand years are completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to war." white, represents the righteousness of the church, which has now been judged and derives from a Hebrew word meaning "to be firm," and may be translated "truly" These things were Christs return, Satans capture, Satans binding, the Millennium, Satans final end, the last judgment, and the new heavens and earth, including the New Jerusalem. This remains true. The series of Psalms from Psalms 113:1-9; Psalms 114:1-8; Psalms 115:1-18; Psalms 116:1-19; Psalms 117:1-2; Psalms 118:1-29 were called the Hallel (compare H1984) , the Praise God, and were part of the essential education of every Jewish lad. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, beholding the beast that he was, and is not, and shall be present." But a voice issues from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. Chapter 19 of Revelation is the only place in the Bible that this name describing God is used. That is good. event in the biblical world. 3:12-15: 2 Cor. The voice of this great multitude was as the voice of __________ ______________. Whereas for the Jew, there are necessary dates and momentous changes that must take place; and hence, as Daniel represents the Jew, we have the difference kept up. It was not merely a vocable or sound dropped heedlessly from unthinking lips. I can hardly wait. This is of great importance. Discover The Book of Revelation - Each Scripture is Explained All the dispensational names of God disappear. The picture is of the warrior Christ trampling the grapes so as to produce the wine of the wrath of God, which his enemies must drink to their doom. Here we learn at once of what His train consists. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. But now there is but one throne: Christ judges the dead. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.". The army which he commands (Revelation 19:14; Revelation 19:14), a very large one, made up of many armies; angels and saints followed his conduct, and resembled him in their equipage, and in their armour of purity and righteousness--chosen, and called, and faithful. It is a wholly unwarranted interpolation. In the tabernacle in true sayings of God.". 19:5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.". It should be, "and shall be present. This, was no lack. The thousand years of peace and plenty will have given occasion for an ever-growing population, spite of a world thinned by divine judgments which open that era. We'll study the Book of Revelation, explained in detail, and learn about every aspect of the Book of Revelation including the apocalypse, four horsemen, great tribulation, great white throne judgement, mark of the beast and so much more! I am accounted righteous by God because I believe and trust in Jesus Christ. It is not what Christ puts on them, but a recognition even at this time of whatever has been of God the working I do not deny of the Spirit of Christ. He with the glorified saints will have their home on high, but none the less shall they reign over this very world for the allotted time. shall be their shepherd, as in Revelation 2:27, Revelation 12:5 Of course in all three places the reference is to Psalms 2:9. His eyes were as a flame of fire ( Revelation 19:12 ). This rider is called "FAITHFUL AND TRUE"--"faithful" because we can depend on His promises. "Let him that heareth," then, be encouraged to "say, Come." His blood-soaked robe signifies that his triumph has come through his death on the cross. We. You can believe this. There are many who are not so; but the Lord does not forget them. His Word is "a two-edged sword." When the hour comes that is spoken of here, it is not for us, but for those who will be found after we are gone. This brings in idolatry, real shameless idolatry too, not merely that subtle working of the idolatrous spirit that every Christian has to guard against. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 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. The verse numbering in . We must therefore look a little into the two objects Babylon and the beast. Verse 8. The chronological progression of events on earth resumes from Revelation 16:21. And so the first two inhabitants of Gehenna will be the antichrist and his prophet and they will be the soul inhabitants, it would seem, for a thousand years. No sooner was the marriage solemnized between Christ and his church by the conversion of the Jews than the glorious head and husband of the church is called out to a new expedition, which seems to be the great battle that was to be fought at Armageddon, foretold Revelation 16:16; Revelation 16:16. "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many diadems." "righteousness" was not ours until we received the Lord Jesus into our lives and After the destruction of Babylon religious and commercial, chapter seventeen and eighteen. 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 21:22). It means true in the sense that Jesus Christ is the one who brings the truth and who never at any time has any falsehood in anything that he says. The woman was there seen sitting on a scarlet-coloured beast, i.e., the well-known imperial power of the Roman Empire, "full of [the] names of blasphemy" in its wicked opposition to God, and clothed with the forms we have already seen "seven heads and ten horns." The one therefore throws much light upon the other. He destroys the assembled rebels who have gathered together against Him. That is what prophecy is about. I am a servant of God just like you are. email us at: Revelation 19 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible We find, accordingly, the four and twenty elders and four living creatures here brought before us for the last time. He is the center of it. Revelation chapter 19 and 20