Setting

God had sent a sudden destruction on Babylon, which was full of fornications, blasphemy, luxuries, and boasting. At the fall of the great city of Babylon, the kings and merchants of the earth were left desolate. Then John heard voices of a great multitude in heaven praising God for His judgment and rejoicing over the marriage of the Lamb. Heaven also opened, and Christ with His armies went out to conquer the beast, the false prophet, and all their followers.

Key Verse

(19:6, 7)

Did You Know...?

1. Marriage supper (19:9): “The wedding supper began toward evening on the wedding day, lasted for many days, and was a time of great jubilation.” [ref] “The imagery of a wedding to express the intimate relationship between God and his people has its roots in the prophetic literature of the OT (e.g., Isa 54:5-7; Hos 2:19). cf. The NT usage (Mt 22:2-14; Eph 5:32).” [ref]

Outline

  • Praise and Thanksgiving in Heaven
    (19:1-10)
  • Praise to God for the judgment on the great harlot
    (19:1-4)
  • Praise to God for His reign and for the marriage of the Lamb
    (19:5-10)
  • Christ’s Victory
    (19: 11-21)
  • Appearance of Christ on white horse
    (19:11-16)
  • Defeat and destruction of the beast and his followers
    (19:17-21)

Segment Analysis

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  • 19:1-10

    1.

    Contrast the scene on earth in chapter 18 and the scene in heaven in chapter 19.

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    The scene in 18 is one of weeping and wailing, whereas the scene in 19 is one of singing and rejoicing.

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  • 2a.

    What is the most frequent refrain in the hymns of praise? What does it mean?

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    Alleluia. It is a transliteration of the Hebrew expression that means “praise the Lord!”

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  • 2b.

    What are the themes of the hymn?

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    God’s righteous judgment on the harlot (2,3); God’s reign (6); the marriage of the Lamb (7).

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  • 3a.

    According to the passage, who should praise God? Why should these people praise the Lord?

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    All God’s servants and those who fear Him, both small and great. They should praise God because God has avenged on the harlot the blood of His servants. They should praise God because the marriage of the Lamb has come. Those who serve God and fear Him should give glory to God for because of all that He has done for them and because their hope of salvation is now fully realized.

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  • 3b.

    Is your life filled with praise and thanksgiving?

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  • 4a.

    What does the marriage of the Lamb represent? Who is the wife of the Lamb?

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    The wife of the Lamb is the church (Eph 5:23-32), which is also the heavenly Jerusalem in 21:2, and the church consists of all true believers throughout history. This marriage will take place when Christ returns. He will welcome the believers into God’s eternal kingdom, where they will see the Lord as He is and be with Him forever (22:4; 1Jn 3:2).

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  • 4b.

    How has the wife of the Lamb made herself ready?

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    The church has made herself ready through the righteous acts of the saints (8). In other words, believers have kept themselves from the evil pollutions of sin and have watchfully waited for the Lord’s return. They have been sanctified by God’s word and spirit and are blameless before God (cf. Eph 5:26, 27; 1Thess 5:23)

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  • 4c.

    Why is this marriage an occasion for gladness and rejoicing?

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    This is the ultimate hope of all believers (2Pet 3:13, 14). We will enjoy close communion with the Lord and will be with Him forever. “There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (21:4)

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  • 4d.

    Who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb?

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    These are those called and chosen to come into God’s kingdom (cf. Mt 22:2-14). They are the called, chosen, and faithful followers of the Lamb (cf. Rev 17:14). At the marriage of the Lamb, we will rejoice as the wife of the Lamb (the church as a whole) and as the invited guests (as individual believers).

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  • 5.

    Who is the “he” in verse 9?

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    The angel who had also shown John the vision of Babylon’s fall. He was one of the seven angels with the seven bowls (17:1).

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  • 6.

    Compare the harlot of chapters 17 and 18 with the wife of the Lamb.

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    The harlot was adorned with luxury (purple and scarlet), and had in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. The wife of the Lamb is arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright. While the harlot committed fornication with the kings of the earth, the wife of the Lamb remained faithful to Christ. The harlot was destroyed and burned, whereas the wife of the Lamb joins her husband with gladness and joy.

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  • 7.

    What does it mean that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy?

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    The message of Revelation points to Jesus Christ the Lamb. He is the Redeemer, Judge, Savior, Bridegroom, Lord, and King. The entire book testifies for Christ and directs our faith and hope to Him. For this reason, the angel would not accept John’s worship. He was only a servant who testified for Christ.

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  • 19:11-21

    8.

    Observe and record the descriptions of the rider on the white horse.

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    He was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war (11). 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 (12). He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God (13). 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 (15). He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (16).

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  • 9.

    How do we know that this rider is the Lord Jesus Christ?

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    The descriptions of this rider parallel those of Christ in chapter 1. In 3:14, Christ further identified Himself as the Faithful and True Witness. Jesus is also the Word that became flesh (Jn 1:1-3, 14; 1Jn 1:1). Verse 16 spells out His name as King of kings and Lord of lords—this can be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Phil 2:9-11).

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  • 10.

    Explain this description of Christ: “He had a name written that no one knew except Himself” (12).

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    The Lord Jesus said, “No one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (Mt 11:27). No one may know Christ without God’s self-revelation. So the revelation of the name has to do with God’s sovereignty. That no one knows His name means that Christ is the sovereign Lord and that He has absolute authority and power.

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  • 11.

    How will the Lord subdue the nations?

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    He will strike the nations with the sharp sword from His mouth. He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron (15). These are images of Christ’s judgment. He will judge all nations by His word and crush all forms of resistance (Jn 12:48; Ps 2:9; Rev 2:26, 27).

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  • 12.

    What is the treading of winepress symbolic of? (cf 14:19-20).

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    Treading the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God means carrying out divine judgment. As in 14:19,20, the treading of the winepress is connected to bloodshed. Here, it is connected to the carnage described in 17,18, and 21.

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  • 13.

    Compare the supper in 17-18 with the marriage supper of the Lamb (cf. Jer 25:32, 33; Ezek 39:17-20; Zeph 1:15-18; Ps 110:5, 6).

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    While the marriage supper is a joyful banquet, the supper here is the execution of God’s vengeful judgment.

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  • 14a.

    Record the earlier references in Revelation to the war described here in verse 19.

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    16:12-16; 17:13,14. The kings of the earth gathered to make war with the Lamb as a result of the deceptive work of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.

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  • 14b.

    What happened to the beast, the false prophets, and the kings of the earth and their armies?

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    The beast and false prophets were captured and cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone to be tormented forever (this is referring to hell fire cf. 20:10; Mt 25:41; Mk 9:47-49). Their followers were killed with the sword and the birds were filled with their flesh (21).

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  • 14c.

    Is there any description of intense struggle in this battle? What might this mean?

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    The passage simply says that the beast and the false prophet were captured and cast alive into the lake of fire. It seems to suggest that they were completely powerless against Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

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  • 15.

    How can your study of Christ’s victory here help you be a victor in your life of faith?

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