Revelation19
New International Version
1After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
3And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”
4The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”
5Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!”
6Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
8Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
9Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
10At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”
11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.
12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
17And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
18so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”
19Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army.
20But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
21The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Revelation 19.
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.
Key Words
μετά (metá): properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 (ἀπό) or G1537 (ἐκ) and G1519 (εἰς) or G4314 (πρός); less intimate than G1722 (ἐν) and less close than G4862 (σύν))
ταῦτα (taûta): these things
ἀκούω (akoúō): to hear (in various senses)
ὡς (hōs): which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
μέγας (mégas): big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
φωνή (phōnḗ): a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language
πολύς (polýs): (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely
ὄχλος (óchlos): a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
οὐρανός (ouranós): the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity)
Cross References
Revelation 19Textual basis for the vesture dipped in blood and treading the winepress of wrath.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Direct Old Testament background for the 'supper of the great God' and the fowls devouring flesh.
Supported by JFB
Identified by JFB as identical in phrasing and theme to the Hallelujah on the destruction of foes.
Supported by JFB
Connects Christ's title 'The Word of God' with John's foundational Gospel prologue.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
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
Messianic psalm of the warrior King riding forth in truth, meekness, and righteousness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
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
Parallels Jesus' parables regarding the marriage feast of the King's Son.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
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
Prophetic declaration of Christ ruling the nations with a rod of iron.
Supported by Matthew Henry
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
Ezekiel's description of the voice of the Almighty as the noise of many waters.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts the first white horse rider (conquering) with Christ's final, ultimate entry.
Supported by JFB
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