1And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2for 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. 3And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
There are only three references to “much people” (Greek: οχλος πολυς) in the singular form (“a big crowd”) in the book of Revelation. The first reference is in 7:9 and the other two are in verses 1 and 6 of this chapter. In 7:9, that “great multitude” from all nations, kindreds, peoples, and tongues had come out of the Great Tribulation (see notes under 7:13-14). They had probably all been killed for their faith (relate 6:9-11).
If 19:1,6 refer to the same group of martyrs, perhaps now joined by others who also have suffered for their faith during the Tribulation, their joy is easy to understand. Their blood has at last been avenged.
The word “Alleluia” occurs only four times in the New Testament, all in the first six verses of this chapter. It is from a Hebrew word that means “Praise the LORD.” The martyred believers in heaven rejoice that salvation, power, and glory belong to God. Verse 2 contains two causal statements, each beginning with “for.” These believers rejoice because the judgments of God are true and just. They testify that God’s having judged the whore of false religion demonstrates that His judgments are true and just. This reference to Babylon probably encompasses both the false religion which sat on the beast in chapter 17 and the false religion which permeated the business dealings of the commercial center in chapter 18. Verse 3 says that “her smoke rose up for ever and ever.” Since the old earth will be disintegrated in the future (II Peter 3:10), verse 3 may refer to the eternal judgment of the individuals who perpetrated the sins of Babylon.
4And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
The 24 elders and the four living creatures (4:4,6-8) join in agreement with the words of the great multitude above and speak the third “Alleluia.”
5And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6And 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. 7Let 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.
A voice saying, “Praise our God” came out of the throne. The voice is probably that of an angel designated by God to speak. The command to praise God is immediately obeyed by other voices which John perceived as being like those of a great multitude (probably the same “much people” of verses 1-3), of many waters (probably an angelic host whose voice images the voice of Christ [see 1:15]), and of “mighty thunderings” (probably angels who announce judgment [see notes under 10:2-7]). These voices speak the fourth “Alleluia.” They declare that God has asserted His reign over the earth. In 11:17 the 24 elders made a similar declaration: “We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.” That earlier declaration followed the sounding of the seventh trumpet (11:15). The fall of Babylon will comprise the judgment of the seventh trumpet, called “the third woe.” Thus, the two declarations concerning the inception of the reign of God are made in regard to that event.
The voices that John heard also said that the marriage of the Lamb had come and that His wife had made herself ready. In verse 7, the bride is spoken of as “His wife.” This description is consistent with the words of Jesus in Luke 12:35-36: Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Jesus’ words seem to imply that at His second coming, He will be returning from the wedding. That is, His words seem to imply that the wedding will have already taken place in heaven; what remains will be the wedding feast to celebrate the marriage.
Similarly, Jesus left to receive a kingdom: He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return (Luke 19:12). Jesus will return with His bride for the wedding feast and to reign as King over the earth.
If the voice of the great multitude (οχλος πολυς) in verse 6 is the same as that in verse 1 and in 7:9, the declaration in verse 7 would indicate that the Tribulation martyrs are separate from the wife of the Lamb. Paul spoke of the church as the wife-to-be of Christ: For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ (II Corinthians 11:2). These observations also give support to the assertion that the church will not be present on the earth during the seven-year Tribulation period.
8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Paul wrote these words to Titus: But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:4-5). The bride of Christ will not be spared the wrath of God because of good things that she (the church) did; she will be eligible to be His bride only by the grace of God our Savior. But after a person is saved through faith in the work of Christ, righteous deeds should follow in that person’s earthly life. Those righteous deeds (the Greek word is plural: “righteousnesses”) will make Christ’s bride to appear with greater beauty in His presence.
The statement in verse 7 that the bride “hath made herself ready” and the statement in verse 8 that “to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” would seem to imply that the judgment of the works of the church for reward has already taken place by this time (see II Corinthians 5:10).
9And 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.
After the wedding that takes place in heaven, there will be a marriage supper on the earth. Probably the celebration will encompass the entire thousand year reign of Christ. Thus, being called to the marriage supper expresses being invited into Christ’s kingdom. Clearly, those called to the marriage supper are not the same as the bride. They are probably the believers of the Old Testament and Tribulation periods.
The angel talking to John could have spoken of the coming celebration as “the marriage supper of the King,” but the angel titles it “the marriage supper of the Lamb.” There would be no marriage supper, no guests, no bride, and no celebration if the groom had not died as the Lamb for our sins.
10And 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.
John was awed by the angel and by the things he had heard. But the angel was not to be worshipped and did not accept worship. In striking contrast, the Lord Jesus, while He was on earth, did accept worship. For example, Jesus gave sight to a man who had been born blind. The man was subsequently rejected by the Jewish religious establishment, but Jesus sought him out:
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. (John 9:35-39)
The angel told John, “worship God.” The Deity of Christ is clearly affirmed in that the angels worship the Lamb just as they worship the Father:
“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” (Revelation 5:13)
The angel also said to John, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The word “prophecy” has the definite article “the” in the Greek text: “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of the prophecy.” In 1:3, we read, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Chapter 22 four times likewise speaks of the prophecy of this book (22:7,10,18,19). The angel was telling John that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of the prophecy given in the book of Revelation.
Hebrews 1:2 says that God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. The eternal Son of God, who was forever with the Father, spoke to us as a witness of what He knew first-hand. The Bible contains the witness of Jesus. John “bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw” (Revelation 1:2). Believers “have the testimony of Jesus.” That testimony has been entrusted to us to share with others. The book of Revelation contains the witness of Jesus concerning the future of this world. The witness of Jesus is the spirit of this book of prophecy. The book of Revelation, like the rest of the Bible, has a Spirit. God’s Holy Spirit, breathed out in the testimony of Jesus, permeates every word of this prophecy.
11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His 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. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
In the first verse of chapter 8 we read, “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.” Heaven waited in silent anticipation of the Lamb’s receiving the kingdoms of the earth as His inheritance. After that verse and in the following chapters we gained a wealth of information about the events which will occur during the seven-year Tribulation period, information that probably mostly fits into the time before the opening of the sixth seal (6:12-17). Now the pause in the narrative in 8:1 comes to an end. Christ returns!
John saw Christ returning to earth on a white horse. The other white horse in 6:2 was that of the counterfeiter, Antichrist. At Jesus’ first coming, He rode into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Mark 11:7). At His first coming He came as a Servant to die for our sins. At His return, He will come as the King of kings and Lord of lords to “judge and make war.” The beast that John saw was full of blasphemous names (17:3). In contrast, Christ will have many wonderful names, including one which only He Himself knows, probably given to Him by the Father. He is called “Faithful and True” and “The Word of God.” Clearly, anyone who rightly esteems the Lord Jesus will also esteem the written Word of God, which speaks of Him. The name “King of kings and Lord of lords,” will be written on His garment and on His thigh, the place of the scabbard of a sword (Psalm 45:3; Song of Solomon 3:8). Jesus doesn't need to carry a sword. His word is a sharp sword. Jesus Christ will be the victor.
Christ will wear many crowns. These are likely the crowns of His defeated foes (see II Samuel 12:29-30). He will be wearing a garment dipped in blood. While Christ’s clothing will be sprinkled with the blood of His enemies (Isaiah 63:1-6), the fact that the garments of the armies with Him are described as white and clean seems to imply that the blood here spoken of on Jesus’ garment is His own. Even when He returns to reign, He returns as the exalted Lamb of God whose blood makes Him forever worthy to receive the nations as His inheritance (Revelation 5:9-12).
Out of His mouth goes a sharp two-edged sword. That means that He needs only to speak His word, and judgment is executed. He will rule (literally “shepherd”) the nations with a rod of iron. He is the “man child” given to Israel that is spoken of in chapter 12. Jesus was “caught up unto God, and to his throne” (12:5) after His death and resurrection, but He will return to reign as King.
Not many details are given in Revelation concerning the sequence of events which will occur at the moment of Christ’s return, perhaps emphasizing the fact that the outcome is swift and sure. When He returns, He will come “quickly” (22:7,12,20). No opposition against Him will stand.
17And 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; 18that 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. 19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Only two “suppers” are mentioned in the book of Revelation. Both of them are in chapter 19. In verse 9 we read, “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Verse 17 speaks of the supper of God. The first is a banquet of celebration of the relationship between Christ and His bride. The second is an awful feast of human flesh for every carnivorous bird. The angel who calls the birds to the feast of flesh is “standing in the sun.” The sun has now risen as the prophet Malachi said: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2). Jesus also spoke of His return by using a proverb concerning birds that feed on carrion: For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together (Matthew 24:27-28).
The Antichrist and the kings of the earth and their armies will be gathered together to fight against Christ and His army. These are the kings that we read about in chapter 16, who will be gathered by three demonic spirits directed by Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet: “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (16:14). The demons use miraculous signs to convince the kings to come to the place called Megiddo or Armageddon (16:16).
Will the kings know before Christ comes that He is about to return and that they are lining up for battle with Him? It does not seem likely that they will have that much spiritual understanding. We read in chapter 17 that the beast and the 10 kings will burn the whore of false religion with fire. There we read, “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will” (17:17). The 10 kings and the beast thought that they were doing something for themselves, but they were unwittingly fulfilling the will of God. Probably in the same way the kings of the earth will come to Megiddo thinking that they are strengthening the hand of power of Antichrist in the world. We read in 11:1-2 that the temple and altar in Jerusalem would be protected when the city is tread under foot for the last 3½ years of the Tribulation period. Perhaps the kings will come in anticipation of finally destroying the temple in Jerusalem and removing all possible rival claim to deity for Antichrist. Such a move would be the same spiritually as challenging Christ Himself. He will meet their challenge.
20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
These verses do not tell us the details of what happened. The prophet Isaiah wrote:
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (Isaiah 63:1-4)
Other passages in the Old Testament give other details. The book of Revelation states the entire victory in just two sentences. The beast and the false prophet will be seized and thrown alive into hell. All the armies who followed the beast will be killed by the word of Christ, and their corpses will become food for the birds. The prophet Ezekiel likely spoke of the same event when he wrote,
And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 39:17-20)
Note: All Scriptures are quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.