Revelation 19NASB
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Revelation19

New American Standard

1After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,

2because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great prostitute who was corrupting the earth with her sexual immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her.”

3And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises forever and ever.”

4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”

5And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.”

6Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

7Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.”

8It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

10Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brothers and sisters who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

11And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

12His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.

13He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

14And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.

15From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.

16And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great feast of God,

18so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slaves, and small and great.”

19And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse, and against His army.

20And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire, which burns with brimstone.

21And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Revelation 19.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The church in heaven and that on earth triumph, and praise the Lord for his righteous judgments. (1–10). A vision of Christ going forth to destroy the beast and his armies. (11–21).

vv1-10

Praising God for what we have, is praying for what is yet further to be done for us. There is harmony between the angels and the saints in this triumphant song. Christ is the Bridegroom of his ransomed church. This second union will be completed in heaven; but the beginning of the glorious millennium (by which is meant a reign of Christ, or a state of happiness, for a thousand years on earth) may be considered as the celebration of his espousals on earth. Then the church of Christ, being purified from errors, divisions, and corruptions, in doctrine, discipline, worship, and practice, will be made ready to be publicly owned by him as his delight and his beloved. The church appeared; not in the gay, gaudy dress of the mother of harlots, but in fine linen, clean and white. In the robes of Christ's righteousness, imputed for justification, and imparted for sanctification. The promises of the gospel, the true sayings of God, opened, applied, and sealed by the Spirit of God, in holy ordinances, are the marriage-feast. This seems to refer to the abundant grace and consolation Christians will receive in the happy days which are to come. The apostle offered honour to the angel. The angel refused it. He directed the apostle to the true and only object of religious worship; to worship God, and him alone. This plainly condemns the practice of those who worship the elements of bread and wine, and saints, and angels; and of those who do not believe that Christ is truly and by nature God, yet pay him a sort of worship. They stand convicted of idolatry by a messenger from heaven. These are the true sayings of God; of Him who is to be worshipped, as one with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

vv11-21

Christ, the glorious Head of the church, is described as on a white horse, the emblem of justice and holiness. He has many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is arrayed in a vesture dipped in his own blood, by which he purchased his power as Mediator; and in the blood of his enemies, over whom he always prevails. His name is “The Word of God;” a name none fully knows but himself; only this we know, that this Word was God manifest in the flesh; but his perfections cannot be fully understood by any creature. Angels and saints follow, and are like Christ in their armour of purity and righteousness. The threatenings of the written word he is going to execute on his enemies. The ensigns of his authority are his name; asserting his authority and power, warning the most powerful princes to submit, or they must fall before him. The powers of earth and hell make their utmost effort. These verses declare important events, foretold by the prophets. These persons were not excused because they did what their leaders bade them. How vain will be the plea of many sinners at the great day! We followed our guides; we did as we saw others do! God has given a rule to walk by, in his word; neither the example of the most, nor of the chief, must influence us contrary thereto: if we do as the most do, we must go where the most go, even into the burning lake.

Cross References

Revelation 19
v13Isaiah 63:1-5allusion

Textual basis for the vesture dipped in blood and treading the winepress of wrath.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v17Ezekiel 39:17-20allusion

Direct Old Testament background for the 'supper of the great God' and the fowls devouring flesh.

Supported by JFB

v6Psalms 149:4-9thematic

Identified by JFB as identical in phrasing and theme to the Hallelujah on the destruction of foes.

Supported by JFB

v13John 1:1thematic

Connects Christ's title 'The Word of God' with John's foundational Gospel prologue.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v16Revelation 17:14thematic

Parallels Christ's title 'King of kings, and Lord of lords' and his victory with his chosen armies.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

Direct parallel where John again attempts to worship the angel and is corrected.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v11Psalms 45:3-7typology

Messianic psalm of the warrior King riding forth in truth, meekness, and righteousness.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v20Revelation 20:10thematic

Verifies that the beast and false prophet remain in the lake of fire.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Identifies the beast and false prophet (miracle worker) first introduced in chapter 13.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Scriptural promise that God will avenge the blood of his servants.

Supported by JFB

v7Matthew 22:2thematic

Parallels Jesus' parables regarding the marriage feast of the King's Son.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v8Isaiah 61:10thematic

Old Testament source for being clothed in garments of salvation and robes of righteousness.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

Parallels Christ destroying the lawless one with the breath of his mouth.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v15Psalms 2:9allusion

Prophetic declaration of Christ ruling the nations with a rod of iron.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v15Isaiah 11:4allusion

Messianic prophecy of smiting the earth with the rod of his mouth.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Parallels the judgment language of smoke rising up for ever and ever.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v6Ezekiel 1:24allusion

Ezekiel's description of the voice of the Almighty as the noise of many waters.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v11Revelation 6:2contrast

Contrasts the first white horse rider (conquering) with Christ's final, ultimate entry.

Supported by JFB

v19Revelation 16:14thematic

The gathering of the kings of the earth for the battle of the great day.

Supported by Matthew Poole

New Testament concept of the Church espoused to Christ as a chaste virgin.

Supported by JFB