Reviews and Views

Book of Revelation – Chapter 19

The return of the King is the topic of this chapter. We have waited for a very long time, and now it is upon us. The rejoicing in heaven sets the stage for what is about to happen:

• Christ will remove sinners from the world.
• God will be appropriately honored.
• King Jesus receives His earthly throne.
• Earth restored to its lost glory.

Reasons for heaven’s joy:

• Verse 1: The joy expressed by an angelic choir occurs after Babylon’s destruction and before Christ returns to earth to set up the millennium kingdom. Complete salvation has come for God’s people. We see that:
• Evil has run its course,
• The Tribulation hour is concluding,
• Christ is preparing to return with His saints to earth,
• The world armies are about to be demolished, and their weapons remade into useful implements of peace per Isaiah 2:4.
• Christ soon establishes His millennial kingdom upon the earth with its capital in Jerusalem.
• Verse 2: God’s judgment is both proper and righteous, as evidenced by the destruction of Babylon. He has avenged the blood of His servants on her (Babylon). No amount of legislation could root out the evil so entrenched in society; the rot had gone too deep. Has entrenched corruption become a problem in our day? Is it too late for us to do something about it?
• Verse 3: Rebellion has ended. The destruction of Babylon marked the end of human rule on earth. There is no more false religion or injustice.
• Verses 4 thru 6: God is clearly in control. The 24 elders and the four living creatures (cherubim) now join the angels in the praise and rejoicing, then the redeemed in heaven join in to praise God for all He has done. With everyone in heaven singing, John heard it as the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters, like mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns!”
• Verses 7 thru 10: The Marriage of the Lamb is Completed. Now is the hour of Christ’s return to earth with His Bride (the Church). His honeymoon launches the 1,000-year reign on earth. A few notes:
• The marriage takes place in heaven, not on earth.
• The Bride prepares herself at the Judgment Seat of Christ in heaven before the wedding. Our lives on earth receive an in-depth review in the light of the Judgment Seat. Both events are time-consuming, taking 7-years during the Tribulation on earth.
• At the moment of one’s conversion, they are adopted into the family of God and espoused to the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to live in the new believer as an engagement ring or earnest on Christ’s promise to return. For centuries, we have experienced a postponed wedding while the Bridegroom is preparing a place for us in heaven. We have the assurance that He will come again to rescue us during the Rapture from the Tribulation period.
• Then the Bride returns to earth from heaven with her lover (the Lord Jesus Christ). The Savior is the Bridegroom because He is the Lamb of God.

What is meant about the Bride preparing herself?

FIRST, the Bride is the Church which comprises those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and have received eternal life. Christ is the Bridegroom who sacrificially and lovingly chose the Church to be His Bride (Ephesians 5:25-27). During this church age, the Bride remains separated from Christ, longing to be with Him in heaven. But for now, the Church is to remain faithful to Him until ushered into heaven. At the Rapture, the Church unites with the Bridegroom.

SECOND, the Bride “made herself ready.” During the Tribulation period, the Church has been preparing for the wedding in heaven. This preparation has been by God’s gracious work. She is a flawless, blameless virgin. God desires to give gifts to those that are His. The Bride has made herself ready in the power of God, by the grace of God, through the work of the Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:12-13 and Colossians 1:29). Purged from all sin & impurity, she is flawless and blameless—John MacArthur, Because the Time is Near, page 285.

THIRD, the Church must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, before the wedding, where one’s deeds or works get investigated. A person’s faith is not in question. Everyone receives the things done in their body, whether good or bad; refer to 2 Corinthians 5:10. Then in the fires of testing, all the works of Christians get evaluated. If the deeds remain through the fire, then a reward results. If any work burns, that person suffers a loss of rewards. Eternal salvation is never in question, for there is no condemnation for the believer. It is not a determination who will enter heaven. The sins of believers will not be an issue. Those who have trusted Christ now possess eternal life. Therefore, the judgment seat of Christ determines rewards for faithful service performed while on earth. 

The marriage of the Lamb will include a reception with many guests who join them to celebrate. The Bride and the Bridegroom are not the guests. Who, then, are the those in attendance at the Marriage Supper?

• The guests include all believers before Pentecost and those following the Rapture (Tribulation saints).
• The Bride (the Church) is composed of believers from the Day of Pentecost until the Rapture.
• Jack Van Impe points out that the marriage occurs in heaven. But, the supper happens on earth, as portrayed by the ten virgins’ parable.

Once again, John is so overwhelmed by the prophecy that he bows his knee to the angel (or created creature) giving him the revelation. The angel quickly says, “Don’t do it. Angels are but ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). So we need to beware of any religion that honors or reveres angels – including the angel Moroni of Mormonism. We are only to worship GOD.

Verses 11 thru 16: Portrays the coming of Christ to earth, not the Rapture, but Christ coming with the saints. When the Lord reveals himself to the planet’s inhabitants, many will be confused by what they see and hear. 

• Heaven opens, and John sees a white horse. The Lord Jesus Christ is seated on the white horse and has the title of “Faithful and True.” He is coming to earth to judge and make war on evil. He comes as a Conqueror and not as a servant. The white horse symbolizes the Rider’s spotless, unblemished, and absolute holy character. This opening of a door in heaven is the second opening that John records.
• His eyes were “as a” flame of fire to pierce the darkness and purge the evil from the earth. Nothing escapes His notice. He sees through the sham and hypocrisy of men. He wears many crowns of royalty. He has a name written that no man knows but Himself. Only at the hour of His return will the unknown name be known. Until then, He alone knows this name and its meaning.
• Christ, clothed with a vesture (or clothing) dipped in blood (a picture of the judgment He is bringing to earth), with the name “The Word of God.” The blood on His vesture is from previous battles. The Lord is a man of war! The war of Armageddon is His last one. He speaks, and His enemies are smitten where they stand.
• The armies of heaven followed Him to earth. There are four divisions: the Bride (the Church), Tribulation saints, Old Testament saints, and the holy angels. These armies also ride on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. They carry no weapons. This army numbers in the millions upon millions. They are privileged to stand with Christ as He comes to execute judgment upon all the ungodly. Armageddon is their destination as they follow Christ. The time of reaping has arrived.
• Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword. This sword is the Word of God. Christ and His Word alone smash the nations at Armageddon. Any rebellion is dealt with swiftly during His reign, representing ruling with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. The armies of heaven only observe as He immediately takes total control. Governing of the whole world is promised to believers as they represent Christ’s rule in the kingdom.
• On Christ’s vesture and His thigh, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” is written. The thigh, which displays this title, symbolizes power. It is obvious who He is. But is the name on His thigh part of the garment He wears or a tattoo? We will know when we get there.

In verses 17 and 18: we hear of the results of Armageddon. An angel calls all the birds to come and feast upon the dead. There, on the plains of Megiddo, lay kings, captains, mighty men, horses, and those that sat upon them. Even after the birds have their fill, it takes months to bury the remaining bodies. So before the Marriage Supper of the Lamb becomes a reality, the supper of the great GOD occurs (i.e., the birds). 

In verses 19 and 20: All these people gathered together to make war against Christ and His heavenly armies. They failed swiftly in this attempt. We see Satan chained and placed into the bottomless pit for 1,000-years. The beast (the Antichrist) and the false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 

In verse 21, all those gathered at Armageddon get slain by the King; none spared. The battle has ended.

April 21, 2024 - Posted by Bill Wyler | Bible, Last Days, Revelation | Bible, Future, GOD, Truth