Revelation19
New King James Version
1After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!
2For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”
3Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!”
4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!”
5Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”
6And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
7Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
8And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
10And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
12His 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.
13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
15Now 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.
16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,
18that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
19And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
20Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded 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.
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