Revelation 19

19:1-10 This section expands the message of the sixth song of response (18:20; see study note on 18:1-24), which called for rejoicing. Various groups direct praises to the Lord. The praises can be divided into two sections: thankfulness for the destruction of the evildoers (19:1-4) and thankfulness for the reward of God’s people (19:5-8).19:1-2 This scene focuses on what John heard rather than on what he saw. The first three-part praise comes from a vast crowd (cp. 7:9-10).

19:2 true and just (see 15:3; 16:7): In his righteous justice, God kept his promise of judging the great prostitute, who represents moral and spiritual corruption and persecution of God’s people.

19:3 The smoke from that city: God’s people praise him once again as they see the evil city’s demise (cp. 14:11).

19:4 In response to the first two praises (19:1-3), the elders and the living beings (see ch 4) again prostrate themselves before the enthroned God (see 4:10; 5:8, 14; 7:11). • Amen! See study note on 5:14.

19:6-8 The focus of the final thunderous Praise the Lord! is that God reigns as the Almighty in complete supremacy (see 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:15; 21:22).

19:7 the wedding feast of the Lamb: This event—the wedding of the Messiah with his bride, the church (see Isa 54:5; 61:10; Jer 31:32; Ezek 16:7-14; Hos 2:16-20; Mark 2:19-20; 2 Cor 11:2)—symbolizes complete victory and eternal fellowship.

19:8 finest . . . linen: See study note on 15:5-6. • the good deeds of God’s holy people: See Eph 2:8-10; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Jas 2:18-22.

19:9 Blessed are those: This fourth blessing in Revelation (see 1:3; 14:13; 16:15) affirms the hope of the faithful. • who are invited: God is in control and determines who will participate. • wedding feast (cp. 19:17): Jesus often used meals to explain the Kingdom (Matt 22:1-13; Luke 14:7-24), and he ordained a meal for the church (Mark 14:22-25; 1 Cor 11:23-26). • These are true words: This oath asserts the reliability of the message.

19:10 The angel issues a stern warning against misdirected worship (cp. 22:8-9).

19:11–20:15 The drama moves into its climactic scenes: God’s enemies are defeated and punished in two episodes (19:11-21; 20:7-10). Meanwhile, the faithful experience a 1,000-year resurrection (20:1-6) followed by the final judgment (20:11-15).19:11-16 Then I saw: John describes a new vision of Jesus Christ as the holy warrior and conquering King (see 14:1; see also Exod 15:1-7; Pss 24:8; 78:49-50; Isa 59:16-17).19:11 The rider is both a judge and a righteous warrior (see Isa 11:1-5). He is named Faithful and True: He embodies God’s authenticity and reliability (see Rev 19:2; 21:5-6).

19:12 His eyes were like flames of fire: See 1:14-16; Dan 10:6. • Christ, wearing many crowns, is contrasted with the dragon, whose seven heads were each crowned (see Rev 12:3).

19:13 He wore a robe dipped in blood: This description may refer to (1) the blood of Christ’s enemies, signifying his total victory (Isa 63:2-4); or (2) Christ’s sacrificial death for humanity (Rev 1:7). • The Word of God is John’s distinctive designation for Jesus (see John 1:1, 14).

19:14 Christ’s armies of heaven, dressed in victorious white and riding on white horses, contrast with the locust forces of the abyss (9:3-11), the three frog-like evil spirits (16:13), and the defeated armies at Armageddon (16:16; see also 19:19).

19:15 From his mouth . . . a sharp sword: See 1:16; Heb 4:12; see also Isa 49:2; 2 Thes 2:8. • The iron rod represents Christ’s power as ruler and as supreme shepherd (see Pss 2:9; 23:4). • God, the Almighty: See Rev 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:7, 14; 21:22. • His fierce wrath will crush his enemies like grapes in a winepress (Isa 63:2-4).

19:16 King . . . and Lord: See 1:5; 15:3; 17:14.

19:17-19 Gather together for the great banquet: This feast upon the flesh of the armies gathered together to fight against Christ is contrasted with “the wedding feast of the Lamb” (19:7). The enemies that form for battle are quickly destroyed (19:20-21; see also 14:17-20; 16:16-21). Two feasts—the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:7-8) and the “great supper” of God’s judgment (19:17-18, 21)—provide two perspectives on the end of time. They illustrate the two sides of the Good News: grace and judgment, reward and punishment (cp. John 3:16-18).

19:20 beast . . . false prophet See 13:1-10. • The fiery lake of burning sulfur provides a picture of eternal punishment (see 20:10, 14-15; 21:8; see also Isa 66:24; Matt 13:41, 49-50; Mark 9:43, 48). • God’s enemies are thrown into the fiery lake. The two beasts (Rev 19:20) are followed by the dragon (20:10) and then by death (20:14) and unsaved humans (20:15).

19:21 The entire army of enemies is dispatched by the sword from Christ’s mouth (see 1:16; 2:12, 16; see also Isa 11:4; 49:2; 2 Thes 2:8). While one side of God’s word (grace) leads to repentance, the other side (judgment) carries out the death sentence.