The Book of Revelations Chapter 19
Verses 1-5 Celebrating the fall of a city
This great multitude – those martyred saints who fell at the hand of Antichrist during the Great Tribulation – cried out for God’s righteous judgment in Chapter 6. Here, finally, their prayer is answered.
“Praise the Lord,” in Hebrew is “Alleluia” it is used four times in this chapter and nowhere else in the New Testament as God’s people rejoice at His victory over Babylon.
This whole section is about parsing God and is in direct contrast to how the kings and merchants of chapter 18 felt we as Christians will be delighted at the end of the corrupt city that has fallen. But note the focus of worship is on the great works of God, specifically, His work of righteous judgment.
Verses 6-9 The wedding feast
To fully understand the significance of the wedding feast and the church being the bride of Christ we have to have a look at a biblical wedding.
First the groom to be would select his bride. He would then be engaged to her leave her or her family something of value to prove his intent on marrying her and leave to go back to his own parents house.
Unlike modern day engagements, during this time the couple were for all intensive porpoises married but living in separate homes, and as such as we read with Mary and Joseph that they would have to get divorced to be able to separate.
After a period of approx 6-10 months the groom with a large procession would make his way back to his brides home and the actual wedding ceremony would begin and unlike today it was not a single day event but would last at least a few days as many would have travelled to the event with the actual ceremony taking place at the end.
We can see how Jesus came down to get engaged to his bride (Church/Christians) He has left a valued gift to prove He will return (Holy Spirit) and is at the moment back at His parents’ home (heaven) and we await His return. It also helps explain why it hurts Him so much when we idol worship as its us going out and having affairs while we wait.
Verse 10 No created being should ever be worshipped. There are important differences between humans and angels, but both are just servants of the same Lord.
Verses 11-16 Jesus returns to a hostile earth.
(11) When Jesus comes, He comes on a white horse. In Biblical times, especially among Israel, most soldiers were foot soldiers. To have a horse in battle was a significant advantage. A horse spoke of honour, of power, and of speed; the colour of this horse speaks of victory.
Jesus comes as a judge and a general, to make war. The world that rejected Him before rejects Him again, but this time Jesus judges those who reject Him.
(12) There are no secrets here that Christ does not see, on His head the last time He was earth he was forced to wear a crown of thorns and now many crowns are to show that He is king of all kings.
(13) His robe is dipped in blood. Scholars debate whether this is His own blood (reminding us of the cross) or the blood of His enemies. Either is quite possible.
(14) There is little doubt that angels will also accompany Jesus and His people, but the main idea is that the Son of God leads the people of God from heaven against earth. Note there is no mention of any kind of armour or weapon for any soldier in the great army that follows Jesus.
(15) The idea isn’t that Jesus holds a sword in his mouth, or that He is spitting swords. This is a dramatic way of referring to the power of His Word.
Jesus comes to rule and to reign in triumph, to rule the nations with a rod of iron as predicted in psalm 2, to rule with an Iron rod means never to be swain or take a bribe as like iron He will be rock solid and unbreakable.
(16) His name is written on his thigh as it would be easy to read when he was on a horse.
Verses 17-21
(17)This shows how bright this angels shines with the glory of God. The angel can be seen, even though it stands before the sun. “The angel is standing in the light of the sun with the angel himself possibly shining even brighter.
(18) The angel call the scavengers to feed on all classes of man both kings and peasants, as hell will contain every walk of humankind, from Hitler to the nice old lady down the street.
(19-21) Some find it hard to understand how man could be so foolish to try and fight Jesus and this heavenly army in a pitched battle but we should never underestimate man’s hatred of God.
John says nothing about a battle. This is an entirely one-sided affair, more of a simple act of judgment than an actual war.
The beast and the false prophet receive special treatment. They are cast alive into the lake of fire before the Great White Throne of judgment holds court and are the only humans who do not get to stand before the court of God and are the first to be thrown into hell.