Revelation 19
Notes
Transcript
1-5 6-10 11-16 17-21
1-5 6-10 11-16 17-21
1-5
1-5
After John is shown the vision of the fall of the Antichrist’s capital ,the rebuilt Babylon, he hears a great many voices in heaven crying out in joy, this multitude could be the same multitude that John saw back in chapter 7 of all of the martyrs killed during the tribulations or it could be the entire host of heaven’s angels in a mighty angelic choir, the bible does not specify but it may be just the angels since all the redeemed are encouraged to join in on the celebration in verse 5. Their celebratory cry begins with what all our joy should pointed tword, giving glory to God. Their cry is about God’s true and just judgment on Babylon. There is no regret or questioning God in his actions, what was poured out on the city and its inhabitants is what we all deserved if not for the saving work that Jesus Christ completed on the cross. They cry out in joy a second time celebrating the completeness and finality of the destruction of Babylon, saying the smoke will rise up from its destruction forever and ever indicating that it shall never be rebuilt.
The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures, that are most likely cherubim, who we first saw in chapter 4 fall down in worship to God saying Amen! and Hallelujah! in agreement with what the multitude were celebrating. Then a voice from the throne, most likely not God since the voice says “give praise to Our God” but it could be one of the elders since they are seated on thrones around God or it could be one of the angels near the throne, as the KJV translates this as “a voice came out of the throne”, whom ever it is he calls for everyone in heaven and all the redeemed left on the earth, God’s bond-servants, or servants using the Greek word doulos which is also translated as slaves, all those who are purchased by God with the blood of Jesus Christ and belong to Him all those who fear Him, both small and great are called to praise our God.
6-10
6-10
John hears an even greater multitude crying out, the roar of many waters, like standing next to Niagara Falls, a deafening sound, like many cracks of thunder all at once. They cry out with praise to our God that he reigns in heaven, they all cry out to give God the glory for the time has come for all who belong to Jesus Christ to be clothed in bright white pure linen and join the celebration of the triumphant joining of Jesus Christ and his bride, the redeemed church.
The angel showing John the vision tells him that all the redeemed are blessed and God is true in his judgments. John is so overwhelmed by the visions and the multitude in heaven rejoicing and celebrating Satan’s defeat that he falls down and starts to worship the angel. The angel reprimands John telling him not to worship him for he is a fellow created being, a fellow servant of God with all those who believe in Jesus Christ and his testimony.
11-16
11-16
Then a new vision opens and John sees Jesus sitting on a white horse, he calls him faithful and true, as he was also called in chapter 3 to the church in Laodicea. Jesus is ready to defeat the rebellious armies of the world, it says he is ready to judge in righteousness and make war, but the outcome is already known and will not be a battle, for there is no hope or chance for the rebels to even slow Jesus and his angels down. His eyes are bright and alert shining like fire penetrating all darkness so he can see everything even men’s hearts, on his head are many royal crowns, he has a secret name that no one knows except Himself. His robe is bloody from the vanquished just like Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 63:3 ““I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel.” and he is called the Word of God, just as he was introduced in John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” All of heaven’s army was with him clothed in white and also riding white horses. The sharp sword coming out of his mouth is the Word of God and the truth which he will judge the world, his rule will be firm and unyielding like an iron rod. He will do the will of God and crush their enemies like grapes are crushed in a winepress. All will know that he is King of kings and Lord of lords, but for most this knowledge will not bring about repentance and worship but destruction and wrath from God.
17-21
17-21
John sees an angel in front of the sun calling out to all of the birds of the air to gather for the great feast that they will shortly have, they will feast on the slain armies of the world. Then the beast, who is the Antichrist and his false prophet that made false signs and wonders so that all of the unrepentant world took the mark of the beast and worshipped him as a god, they are captured and thrown still living into hell, just as Enoch and Elijah ascended to heaven without death, the Antichrist and the false prophet will be cast into hell alive. Then the battle of Armageddon is over, almost as a footnote of the chapter, in one sentence the battle is waged and all the the kings, the captains, the men, the horses and their riders are killed by Jesus, the bible says by the sword that comes from Jesus’s mouth, the very word of God, and all the birds had their feast.