[Revelation 19]
A few decades ago Coke had a catchy jingle for their television advertisement. They had people from different ethnic groups stand together and sing: I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony. I can remember my feeling as I listened to the song. It felt as if it were exactly what the world needed and if it could be accomplished, it would be the most wonderful thing. I feel the same as I read the chorus of Revelation 19.
The story of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 is indeed one of the strange stories of the Bible. The people of the earth come together after the flood and plan a tower. The chapter states that they had one language and one speech. They want to build something magnificent to make a name for themselves – isn’t that good?
Still, the unity that comes by language would have enabled amazing power. God Himself said that nothing would be impossible for them. He confuses the speech at Babel and the people scatter to fill the earth as He originally intended they should do after the flood.
Centuries later a miracle of speech unites a people for whom nothing would be impossible. On the day of Pentecost, God uses language to establish His church and give those converts the power that comes from unity. The gift of tongues is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to be allocated by Him as needed (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
That is our “Church of Christ”- language, but what about the languages of this world, so difficult to overcome. Over many centuries, even before television and digital media revolutionized global communications, some words were recognizable in any language up to this very day.
Chapter 19 has the dual theme of the reward of the saints and the destruction of their enemies announced by the seventh trumpet (11:15-19) We see it in the threefold description just like the trumpet: description of believers, commencement of God’s reign, and the roar of thunder.
19 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” 3 Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”
6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
After these things – a new aspect of the vision.
The word Hallelujah (a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew word = praise the Lord) is well known to the simplest person and well established in every language, with some slight variations. The nineteenth chapter of Revelation starts with the singing of a praise song of immense proportions. God’s judgment, describe in the previous chapters, brings joy to us. There is rejoicing in avenging. The multitudes mentioned are made up of the angels (7:9) and the martyrs (5:11). Here everyone comes together in a mighty choir to sing the psalms of praise to the Most High.
Halal means praise and Jah means Jahweh. It is the first phrase in many Psalms. Psalm 118 is called the Hallel. Every Jew would know it. Here is a little AI-research with my emphasis:
Hallelujah” isn’t literally in every language, but its Hebrew root (meaning “Praise Yahweh”) is recognized and used as a transliteration in nearly all languages worldwide, especially in religious contexts, often appearing as “Alleluia” in Latin/Greek traditions, demonstrating a universal expression of praise transcending specific tongues.
They sing about salvation, glory and power. In contrast to the Beast, God brings miraculous outcome. Salvation brings gratitude, glory brings reverence and power brings a realization of love and therefore trust. These are the elements of true praise.
Sin has to be judged. In the words of T.S. Kepler:
The moral law can no more be broken than the law of gravity; it can only be illustrated.
Judgment is true and just and perfect because:
- God alone knows all, also the inner being of man.
- He is pure and judges without prejudice.
- He is wise and judges right with power to apply it.
God never abandons His own. The praise comes from the church, the 24 elders, (19:3-5) by a universal summons.
God had judged the great harlot – destroyed – the final judgment over evil. His judgments are true. (Psalm 19:9) It is the judgment against Babylon according to Jeremiah 51:25: “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, Who destroys all the earth,” says the Lord.
“And I will stretch out My hand against you, Roll you down from the rocks,
And make you a burnt mountain.
From your hand – OT states typically that the hand means redeeming or oppressive power. God’s Hand saves and the harlot’s power destroys. 2 Kings 9:7 talks about the hand of Jezebel.
The words remind us of Isaiah 34:9-10, where the judgment over Edom is declared. Smoke rises forever. The judgment is complete. The Church and nature come together in praise. The harlot will never rise again. The healed wound is a parody of the resurrection but in truth there is no resurrection for evil – rest in the final judgment of evil with NO resurrection.
The servants are the prophets (10:7, 11:18 & 22:6) and the martyrs (7:3, 19:2) are part of this outburst of jubilation. The small and the great (19:5) are the Christians of all intellectual capacities and social grades, and of all stages of progress in the life of Christ. The wonderful feast of praise is inclusive and welcoming, as everything in the Gospel.
Praise rises up from the redeemed (19:6-8). According to Ephesians 3:10, the church makes known the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. It is the purpose of the church in the unseen.
Amen – a word of full trust – part of the declaration of praise.
A voice from the Throne – possibly that of Christ. (6:6; 16:1,17) Jesus stands as the great representative of the Church – all the saints, confirming their praise and rejoicing. Bond-servants – serving by choice. (2:20; 7:3; 19:2; 22:3)
The sound is like a vast multitude, many waters and the roar of thunder. It cannot be ignored. It might be frightening to many, but it is welcoming to the participants. The sound of praise overpowers all other sound in the universe. It is the “sound” of miracles. We recognize and acknowledge the sound. (1 Kings 18:41 – the sound of abundance.)
Remember the old song:
I hear the voice of the Supernatural singer
Like only those who know Him can
In Matthew 5:12, Jesus uses the two words chairein and agalian that mean rejoice and be exceedingly glad. We have already talked about the custom of repetition in the Hebrew language, to emphasize and facilitate memorization.
The sound of abundant waters, many waters – Ezekiel 1:24 talks of the noise of the four cherubim and in Ezekiel 43:2 the sound is ascribed to many angels and heavenly saints. It is a mighty chorus indeed.
The Lord reigns – God’s kingship is established. David conquered Jerusalem. (Psalms 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 1 Chronicles 16:31) The praise of the saints and heavenly host is entirely focussed on WHO God is and not what He has done. Praise also is for what He does, but here the focus is clear.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
The marriage of the Lamb (19:7) denotes the intimate and indissoluble communion of Christ with the community, which He has purchased with his own blood. God has vindicated his Son and those who follow him. The oppression of Babylon is used to refine the faith of the saints so that they can enter the city and the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Marriage as a high and respected, unbroken relationship, is a dynamic principle of the kingdom of God and a theme throughout the Bible. The prophet Hosea’s life is lived as a symbol of the relationship between God and His people.
In Hosea 2:19-20 God promises his faithful and everlasting relationship with His people.
“I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me
In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy;
I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord.
He declares through His prophet Isaiah that our Maker is our husband (Isaiah 54:5). Ezekiel 16:1-63 explains a wonderful course of action by God, reaching out in relationship. It is magnificent in detail to establish hope and encourage our full confidence in the abiding love of God. Earthly marriage may fail but God is the ultimate husband. (Isaiah 32:2)
The almighty God (19: 6-8) is described as pantokrator, which implies that He has control over all things. This phrase is common in Revelation and only used once in another spot in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 6:18). God is omnipotent and whatever life brings, in Him we can only triumph, never fail.
The New Testament is full of references to wedding feasts and God’s particular view on marriage. (Matthew 22:2, 10-11, 25:1, Mark 2:19, John 3:29, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:21-33.) The fine linen, bright and clean, is the righteous acts of the saints. It is also connected to the testimony of Jesus – bearing witness to His Name in the same manner as it is mentioned other places in Revelation. (1:2,9; 6:9; 11:7; 12:11,17; 20:4)
A theological tension is created – the Bride prepares here clothes and on the other hand she is given her garments – suggesting a transformed life as a response to the justification of God. (Isaiah 61:10)
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful 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 with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
White clothes are always a gift from God – not earned – a result of tested faith. It serves as a reward for righteous acts – choosing to follow Jesus in whatsoever circumstances.
There is a tension between the Bride in fine linen and the harlot clothed in linen holding a cup of abomination – unrighteous acts. (17:4; 18:5,16) The linen worn by the harlot is an attempt to seize the priesthood for herself – contrasting Babylon to the true Bride. The clothes of the corporate church are seized. Christ himself will control who enters the Kingdom – they are the ones who are clothed in the garments He gives.
The righteous acts of the saints (we are covered by it – a robe) are a response to the righteousness of Christ – the result of continuous trust in the Promises of God.
For as the earth brings forth its bud,
As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. (Isaiah 61:11)
One great truth emerges: a loveless marriage is impossible. The intimate communion of marriage to become one flesh is impossible without love. With love is it a joy and delight. Fidelity implies faithfulness and loyalty.
The worship at the Messianic banquet (19:9 -10) echoes with the long tradition and expectation of the Messiah.
And in this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all people
A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees,
Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees. (Isaiah 25:6)
Jesus is looking forward to sit down with all the heroes of faith at the wedding feast when he says in Matthew 8:11:
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.
This is the amazing reality of the invisible Kingdom that Jesus came to confirm on earth. Now we can sit down in the presence of the Father through the Cross. (Psalm 23 & Revelation 3:20)
The One who sits on the throne will spread his Tabernacle over them. It speaks of intimate communion in the Presence of God.
…then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. 6 And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain. (Isaiah 4:5-6)
John writes:
And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
John mistook the angel for a divine figure who is worthy of worship. (1:13-16; 10:1-3) It illustrates how easily we can fall into idolatry.
We can never worship the messenger. Worship is for God alone. The angel is only a servant. Angels played an important role in Judaism, but can never replace God or be used as a mediator.
This is how we test the spirit of prophecy. The true prophet will always put Jesus in the centre of all. The prophet cannot speak until he has heard from Christ himself.
The angelic beings and the saints on the earth are all fellow-servants in their prophetic role to testify to the truth of Jesus. Prophets are not only for a specific role. Here in Revelation the prophetic role of the whole church is implied. (11:3,6,10)
Christ on a White Horse
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
John saw heaven opened – another vision is beginning.
The most dramatic moment of this entire book is the entrance of Christ on the white horse.
White speaks of purity and the reward for purity.
His names are Faithful and True, the victor and the vindicator. He is described according to the Jewish picture of the warrior Messiah. It was common to see a Roman general riding on a white horse when he celebrated victory.
FAITHFUL means to be trusted fully. TRUE means the source of truth and reality as opposed to an illusion. He is worthy to fight the legal battle over evil in his righteous judgment.
There can be no perversion of justice, because He is righteous. There is such a need for that – then and now. He is the ultimate Judge in a heavenly court of law on the works and righteousness of His own Son and not by might on the battlefield. It is a deeper justice than the world could ever marshal.
Long ago there was a raging debate in medieval England long before the Magna Carta in 1215. Right is might versus might is right. The world is struggling to make justice fair and true.
His eyes like flames of fire, which depict consuming power and representing omniscience, wisdom and eternity. Fire is symbolic of the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment – God’s breath. Christ stands among the churches (the lampstands) to judge the churches. He is separating the apostate church from the true followers of the Lamb. Daniel (10:6) describes the Son of Man with eyes like flaming torches. It is a heavenly being that looks like a man.
He is crowned with many crowns, royal as well as victorious (diadema & stephanos). Many crowns in Hebrew meant ALL the crowns – without number. The crowns on the head of the dragon are numbered, but many implies without number – an undefined multiplicity.
It was common for a monarch to wear the crowns of the countries conquered. Jesus is Lord of all earthly kingdoms; more than those of the dragon.
Christians also wear crowns as a reward for their faith. (2:10; 3:11; 4:4) See also Pebbles 241.
His name is secret: Yahweh is so holy, it is not pronounced. Only the consonants spell out His name. God in His fullness cannot be revealed to us until we are ready. His name is powerful and causes miracles when we pray. (See Isaiah 62:2-3; 63:1-3 – about the new name of Jerusalem receiving a diadem and a crown.)
Yahweh refers to the covenantal relationship of God with Israel. His name is written to be clearly distinguished from the blasphemous names of the harlot and the dragon. The name of our God is written on our heads as well – the seal of God. (Revelation 7:1-3)
The mystery is not to keep the name secret but to know the revealed name in its fullness . The mystery is revealed. No one will know except the REAL believers. (Ephesians 3)
Jesus revolutionized prayer when he taught His disciples to call God Father, actually a very warm and familiar “dad”. Jesus gave us His name to pray for anything.
Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.(John 16:23)
There is so much more to God than what we know or could understand in this dispensation. Jesus is the revelation to us of what God is and what we need to know now. That is enough to make every knee bow. (Philippians 2:5-11)
We know God’s name – his name is Jesus. He is the revelation of who God is. His Name can only be revealed as a result of His revelatory action. God reveals himself to the world.
To know in OT meant to have control over the person and to share his character. Christ is sovereign over humanity’s experiential access to the true understanding of his character. We come into relationship to be revealed the full extent of the power of his Name. (Matthew 16:16-17; Luke 10:22)
God reveals his character (name) of grace and justice when He carries out his Promises to his followers.
Revelation 19:12 and 2:17 are linked and also connect with Isaiah 61:2-3 and 65:15.
The heavenly Christ is the Slayer, not the Slain One. (Isaiah 63:1-3)
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood (19:13)
Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? (Isaiah 63:1-3)
Some commentators are of the opinion that it is the blood of the enemies of the church. Some say it is His own blood. His blood was shed for sin. It is over the church. He never takes it back, but it could be symbolic of the blood shed for us.
The rod of iron depicts firmness, not tyranny. The sword from His mouth is two-edged as expressed in Isaiah 11:4.
He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
Psalm 23 – rod and staff – comfort in the discipline and care of God.
His name is: the Word of God exactly as it is described in the first chapter of John’s Gospel. To a Jew, words are not just a sound, they imply action. Words are a unit of energy charged with power.
An example is the blessing over Jacob from his father Isaac that could not be reversed. It was energy already in action. (Genesis 27). God’s word is a hammer that breaks the rock, says Jeremiah 23:29. God’s words create. Words carry out the commandment of God.
God’s Word is the testimony of Jesus. God is revealed in the life and acts, death and resurrection of Jesus.
His name is written on his thigh (side) – where they placed their hand to swear an oath and the typical place for the warrior’s sword. (Exodus 32:27; Judges 3:16,21; Psalms 45:3)
His name is King of Kings and Lord of Lords – Daniel 4:37 – Nebuchadnezzar wrongly took the title for himself. Jesus will deal with the latter-day Babylon and its kings.
God’s wrath (19:14-16) is a stark contrast to the wedding feast. (Isaiah 63:2-6)
The armies of heaven are mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 26:53. He had them as His disposal.
He himself will trample the grapes of God’s wrath in the winepress of the fierceness of God. Their enemies are drunk on their doom. His name is written on His thigh where it will be visible to all. Hebrew tradition repeats to emphasize.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
The doom of the Christ’s enemies (19:17-21) is portrayed in the last verses of the chapter. Kings, commanders, mighty men – the realm of evil and all who follow them.
The birds are invited to feast on the flesh of the beast and his cohorts. It reminds of the description in Ezekiel 39:17-19 of the slaughter of Gog and Magog. The feast is a parody of the wedding feast of the Lamb. Gog and Magog (kings of evil) are non-literal like the speaking eagle in 8:13. All who identify with the Lamb is saved from this judgment.
After the battle of the birds the last judgment takes place – a final reckoning of all evil.
Zechariah 14:7 speaks of the unique day of the Lord when living waters will flow out of Jerusalem. Ezekiel says the waters will flow from the Temple. (47:1-12) Living waters flow out of us when we believe. We are the New Jerusalem – John 7:38.
Daniel 7:10 – a river of fire from the Throne of God. The purifying fire of the Holy Spirit is also the punishment for those who reject righteousness.
They will be cast in the lake of fire. It is the consequence of sin and evil. (Revelation 20:14, Daniel 7:11) It is always by man’s own choices that he is condemned. God wills that everybody is saved. The violence of life that sin brings, is hell, even here in this realm.
The lake of fire is the judgment of the Holy Spirit. He convicts of sin, judgment and righteousness. (John 16:8-11) This conviction of the self-blame for what could have been will bring deep regret and the gnashing of teeth. A lifetime of wrong choices will be an everlasting pool of fire.
Killed by the sword of his mouth – Isaiah 49:2 and 11:4; Matthew 25:41.
The final judgment is executed by the mere pronouncement of Christ’s words.
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:
Here is the link to the podcast on Sporify:
Pebbles of Perpetuity 