Chapter Nineteen

In Revelation chapter 18 we saw God's judgment against the city symbolically known as Babylon. This city represented Rome, especially the economic power that it exercised over the rest of the Roman empire.

One interesting element of prophetic books is that sections of judgment are frequently alternated with sections describing the peace that awaited those who obeyed God. This becomes obvious in books such as Isaiah.

Revelation 19 opens with a section of rejoicing by God's people, in sharp contrast with the discussions of judgment immediately preceding and following.

"Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city!" the kings of the earth lament in Revelation 18:11. In the next verse the merchants of the earth mourn and weep over the doomed city. "Woe, woe, the great city," the merchants cry in verse 16. "Woe, woe, the great city," the shipmasters, passengers and sailors lament in verse 19.

"Hallelujah!" chapter 19 begins. "Salvation and glory and power belong to our God." "Hallelujah!" verse 3 repeats. "Her smoke rises up forever and ever," it says of the great city. "Hallelujah!" the cry is repeated in verses 4 and 6.

The text then goes on to rejoice over the coming of the church, the bride of the Lamb.

John is so overcome by the whole scene that he falls down at the feet of the angel who is carrying the message. The angel tells John in verse 10 not to worship him, since they both are servants who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Notice that the angel says they are witnesses of Jesus. The verse goes on to state that it is the testimony, or witness, of Jesus that is the spirit of prophecy.

Verse 11 returns to the presentation of judgment against God's enemies. The One who comes to carry out this judgment is beautifully described in verses 11 through 16.

He rides on a white horse and is called Faithful and True. In Revelation 6:2 we saw the same rider on the same horse. Revelation 3:14 identifies Jesus as the One who is the faithful and true Witness. The eyes of this rider are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems. Revelation 1:14 says that Jesus has eyes like a flame of fire. We have already seen Jesus wearing a stephanos, the victor's crown. Here we see Him wearing many diadems. One diadem represents kingly or imperial dignity. Jesus wears not one but many of these.

This rider has a name written upon Him that no one except He Himself knows. We pointed out at Revelation 2:17 that a name represented the nature of a person. This nature was often developed through the many experiences of the person. No one but a Christian knows what it means to be a Christian, and no one but Christ knows what He experienced for us. His robe is dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

We are all familiar with what John 1:1 has to say about the Word. The Word was in the beginning with God and the Word was God. The next few verses tell us that this Word is a "He" and not an "It." "All things came into being through Him," verse three explains, "and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being."

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us," verse 14 continues, "and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

The next few verses tell more about this Word, and verse 17 spells out clearly who He is. "For the law was given through Moses," it reveals, "grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ."

Back in Revelation, we find that this rider is followed by an army clothed in fine white linen and riding on white horses.

Out of the mouth of the rider comes a sharp sword which corresponds with the description of Jesus in Revelation 1:16. He rules with a rod of iron. We explained at Revelation 2:27 that a shepherd used a rod of iron to combat enemies and not to hit the sheep over the head. So ruling with a rod of iron does not suggest harshness toward the faithful. It demonstrates judgment against the unfaithful.

He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God. This wine press is described at the end of chapter 14.

On His robe and thigh is written a name, "King of kings and Lord of lords." So verse 12 does not say we cannot know what the name of this rider is. It simply means that only the rider can fully understand the meaning of the name. Revelation 17:14 says that the Lamb is the Lord of lords and Kings of kings.

Who is the rider? There can be no doubt that it is Jesus.

The next thing that John sees is an angel standing in the sun. The angel calls all the birds to take part in the great supper of God. They are invited to eat the flesh of kings, commanders and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and free men and slaves both great and small.

Then John sees the kings of the earth who are assembled to make war against Jesus and His army. This is the same assembly that we saw with the pouring of the sixth bowl beginning in Revelation 16:12. Notice once more that there is no battle. There is no confrontation. It is not possible to fight Jesus. The sea beast, the political and military power of Rome, is immediately seized along with the false prophet, the beast from the earth who represents the false religion of Rome. The two are thrown alive into the lake of fire and brimstone. Their followers are killed by the sword coming out of the mouth of Jesus.

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword," Hebrews 4:12 claims, "and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and morrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

"And there is no creature hidden from His sight," the following verse notes, "but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."

The great harlot had promised great things because of her economic power. Now she was gone. The beast from the sea had boasted of great power. He had authorized the beast from the earth to use falsehood to deceive the people into worshipping him. Now both the beast from the sea and the false prophet have been cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.

Only one enemy remains. This is the enemy behind the enemy. It is the one who gave the power to the sea beast. It is the dragon. It is Satan. Revelation 20 reveals the fate of the Devil.

"He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings," Jesus warns in John 12:48, "has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day."

The sword from the mouth of Christ slashes out to destroy those who reject Him. But to those who obey Him, He offers the truth that will set them free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."