For the past seven months, we’ve been diving into the Book of Revelation. There has been a lot of symbolism, a great deal of warnings and horrific images, and an infinite amount of mercy.
The grand finale will soon take place. The second coming of Jesus. This is different from the Rapture. In our terminology, we often refer to the Rapture as the Second Coming. This isn’t accurate. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 ERV “16 The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And the people who have died and were in Christ will rise first. 17 After that we who are still alive at that time will be gathered up with those who have died. We will be taken up in the clouds and meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever.”
He will meet us in the air during the Rapture. Jesus doesn’t step foot on the Earth until the end of the Tribulation period. That’s the Second Coming. “People are often surprised to learn that references to the Second Coming outnumber references to the First Coming by a factor of eight to one. Scholars have identified 1,845 different biblical references to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.”[i]
This is big news! This will be HUGE! This will be a monumental event like no other.
We’ve all seen newspaper headlines that were large and bold and announced major events. “War is Over”. “Men Walk on the Moon”. “Martin King Shot to Death”. “Kennedy Wins”. “America’s Darkest Day”. All of these proclaim life-altering events. Those in the newspaper business call the bold and extra large font or print as the “Second Coming type” and is “usually reserved for only the most momentous occasions (as in the second coming of [C]hrist.”[ii]
Last week, we discussed the fall of Babylon the Great which describes the termination of the one-world religion and the one-world economic systems. These organizations were run by the False Prophet and the Antichrist who are controlled by Satan. Now those organizations have been obliterated. Chapter 19 of Revelation starts with “after this” or “after these things” indicating that the events in chapters 17 and 18 prompt what happens in chapter 19.
Revelation 19:1 NIV “19 After 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,
2 for 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.”
Throughout Revelation, we’ve flip-flopped along with John between scenes in Heaven and scenes on Earth. The first part of Revelation 19 takes place in Heaven and John describes what he hears.
To get a real sense of the atmosphere in Heaven, play this song, close your eyes, and just listen for a few moments. https://youtu.be/WjNxVHC_6JI?si=4KiE-y31J4o8-LjC
That right there will be the scene we’ll experience in Heaven!
Hallelujah is a Hebrew word that means “praise the Lord!”[iii] The original Greek version of verse one reads like this: “Hallelujah! The salvation and the glory and the power belong to our God.” (Emphasis added.) Not just any salvation, or any glory or any power, but THE indicating the true and original of all of these.
If you look through the first six verses of Revelation 19, you’ll see the word Hallelujah several times. Four times, in fact.
They first praise Him for salvation and redemption[iv]. “Christ is about to appear with His church to complete the redemption He began at Calvary.”[v]
What was started so very long ago will be completed. All of God’s promises are about to be fulfilled.
Revelation 19:3 NIV 3 And again they shouted:
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”
This second hallelujah is a praise for retribution,iv but don’t misinterpret that. The praise and rejoicing are not in response to the fall of Babylon and the condemnation and the avengement on those who corrupted the earth, but rather it’s a celebration of God’s true and just judgments. It’s acknowledging the fact that God can and will take back what is His. God will have victory. Let’s be honest. There are many times that it seems as if it’s just a losing battle in this world. Sin seems to dominate and define what’s normal.
It’s easy to become somewhat jaded and complacent because we’re just so adapted to a world of sin. We don’t know what it’s like to live in the world that God initially designed for us to enjoy.
The third hallelujah or praise the Lord is found in verse 4 and this time it comes from the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures we first met in Revelation chapter 4.
“4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:
“Amen, Hallelujah!”
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
“Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
both great and small!” (Revelation 19:4)
This is a praise or a hallelujah of realization.iv This is all about drumming up praise for the greatness of God. “To contemplate the greatness and grace of God is to awaken gratitude and praise in every believer. Hallelujah!”v
This is the last time that the twenty-four elders are mentioned in Revelation. There will come a point when there won’t be distinctions among the saints.
The final hallelujah comes from a great multitude that John describes as a roar of rushing waters and loud peals of thunder. This is the hallelujah celebrating the reign of Christ Jesus.iv
Revelation 19:6 NIV “6 Then 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.”
God has always reigned. He’s always been on the throne. He hasn’t been on vacation, FMLA, or even a break. “God has been reigning on the throne of heaven, but He is now about to conquer the thrones of Earth as well as the kingdom of Satan and ‘the beast’. In His sovereignty, He has permitted evil men and evil angels to do their worst, but now the time has come for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.”[vi]
This is it. This event is the anchor of our faith. It’s knowing that Jesus did indeed pay the price to redeem us. He did go to prepare a place for us and He is coming back to get us. If we go back to Matthew 24 where Jesus predicted all of this, we read: “29 Right after those days of suffering,
“The sun will become dark,
and the moon
will no longer shine.
The stars will fall,
and the powers in the sky
will be shaken.”
30 Then a sign will appear in the sky. And there will be the Son of Man. All nations on earth will weep when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 At the sound of a loud trumpet, he will send his angels to bring his chosen ones together from all over the earth.” (Matthew 24:29 CEV)
No longer will there be any doubt. The bridegroom comes for His bride.
Before we read the next section, let’s talk a little about the Jewish wedding customs so that we can see the parallels.
Traditional Jewish marriages in Biblical times consisted of three separate periods. The first was the betrothal period in which a marriage contract is made. The bridegroom would have paid a dowry to the bride and her family. This dowry is what seals the betrothal.[vii] At this point, the bridegroom and his bride are set apart and are exclusive to each other. During the betrothal period, the bride and groom are considered legally married although consummation of the marriage doesn’t take place at this point. The bridegroom and his bride do not reside together. They continue to live separately. The only way to break the betrothal was through the process of divorce. This was a solid commitment. (Joseph was betrothed to Mary when he was told she was with child. You may recall that Joseph didn’t want to publicly humiliate her but wanted to secretly divorce her.)
After the betrothal, there is a separation period in which the bridegroom, about 6 months to a year prior to the wedding ceremony, will spend His time preparing a home for himself and his bride. He will do this in his father’s home or on his father’s property. The bride will be preparing herself to be presented to her bridegroom when he returns to take his bride. During all of this time, it is expected that the bride and bridegroom remain faithful to one another.
The last event is the wedding banquet which was usually a 7-day celebration which is attended by many guests who are invited to witness the joyous occasion of the bridegroom and his bride being joined together.
Several times throughout Scripture, the church is referenced as the bride of Christ. Understanding the Jewish culture of marriage helps us to see the parallel.
When we are saved, a covenant is made. Jesus, as the Bridegroom, paid a price for our lives. We are then sealed by the Holy Spirit and we are to live our lives exclusively for Jesus. “Today, the church is ‘engaged’ to Jesus Christ, and we love Him even though we have not seen Him.”[viii]
As far as the separation period goes, Jesus has gone and prepared a place for us in His Father’s house. At the time of the Rapture, He will return to take His bride- the church. “At the rapture, the church will be united with the Bridegroom and the official “wedding ceremony” will take place and, with it, the eternal union of Christ and His bride will be actualized (Revelation 19:7–9; 21:1-2).”[ix]
And there will be a ceremony of great celebration in which guests will be invited.
Revelation 19:7 “7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
9 Then 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.”
Just a few comments on this. You’ll notice that in verse 8, the bride is given fine linen, bright and clean to wear. Allow me to use the Amplified Version of this verse. “She has been permitted to dress in fine linen, dazzling white and clean—for the fine linen signifies the righteous acts of the saints [the ethical conduct, personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character of believers].” (Revelation 19:8 AMP)
We could skim right over that and assume that it’s the righteousness we’re given through our faith as referenced in Phillippians 3:9 NLT “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” But on closer look, you may notice that verse 8 speaks of “righteous acts” or “good deeds” that God’s people have done.
These are two different things. Two different types of righteousness.
If we were only looking for righteousness through our faith, there would be nothing for us to do to get ourselves ready after we were saved. Instead, we are commissioned to live our lives righteously – NOT self-righteously! – but rather righteously in the eyes of God.
The sad truth is, not all saved people will have made themselves ready. Some people get saved and stop there.
Lehman Strauss said, “The fact that the Lamb’s wife has made herself ready suggests that she was not ready before. Too many Christians have assumed the attitude that just because they are saved they can live careless lives but nevertheless go to Heaven. Now it is true that when Christ appears at the Rapture, all saints of the Church Age, both living and dead, will be caught up to be with Him. But before they can reign with Him there must be a reckoning and a readiness.” “Has it ever occurred to you, my Christian friend, that at the marriage of the Bride to the Lamb, each of us will be wearing the wedding garment of our own making?”[x]
Our good works don’t get us into Heaven by any means because we could never be good enough or do enough to pay our own admission. But, our good and righteous deeds will not go unnoticed. They will be attributed to us when we stand before the throne.
One other thing I don’t want us to overlook is verse 9. Who does the angel say is blessed? Those who are invited to the wedding feast! Who are those invited? The bride and bridegroom are never invited to their own wedding. The bride in this case is the church. So who are the guests? “Believers from the Old Testament era and the tribulation.”[xi] “John the Baptist, who died before the death of our Lord, will be there as one of the guests. You will remember that he called himself ‘the friend of the bridegroom’ (John 3:29).”[xii] The wedding ceremony will take place before a large crowd of those who were not part of the Church Age. At this point, there is still some distinction among the saints in Heaven.
This next section of our Scripture in the NIV is titled “The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast”. Isn’t that exciting?
Revelation 19:11 NIV “11 I 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. 12 His 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. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming 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. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
king of kings and lord of lords.
17 And 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, 18 so 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.”
19 Then 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. 20 But 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. 21 The 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.”
If you flip back to Revelation 4:1, what did John say was opened? A door in Heaven. Now look at Revelation 19:11. What did John say was opened? Heaven itself! Heaven opens because Jesus is coming back! And He’s bringing a large army with Him.
This is the second rider on a white horse that’s been introduced in Revelation. The first one came when the first seal was broken and was identified as the Antichrist. This rider is called Faithful and True. He’s the exact opposite of the Antichrist was proves to be unfaithful and false.
Just a few observations. This Rider has a name written on Him that only He knows. Of course, some people think that means everyone else but them and are happy to share their opinion as to what His new name will be. (Insert eyeroll here!) Other than Faithful and True, He is also called the Word of God, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
John describes Him as having eyes like blazing fire which symbolizes His mission to search out judgment. Of course, the many crowns signify His sovereignty and authority.
We are told He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood. A few sentences later there is a mention of the “winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty”. You may recall this image from Revelation 14. It’s the chapter that begins with the 144,000 standing on Mt. Zion with Jesus. This is the chapter that involves the reaping of unbelievers. “19 The angel swung his sickle over the earth. He gathered the earth’s grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s anger. 20 The grapes were squeezed in the winepress outside the city. Blood flowed out of the winepress. It rose as high as the heads of the horses for a distance of 200 miles.” (Revelation 14:19 ERV) What is being projected for us in chapter 19 is what was described in chapter 14 of Revelation. Jesus’ robe is covered in blood, but not His. It’s the blood of those who worship Satan and have been reaped and pressed down by the angel with the sickle.
We are told that Jesus comes with the armies of Heaven. We just have to take a look at the letters to the Thessalonians to see several possibilities of who that will be. “ 7 And he will bring relief to you who are troubled. He will bring it to you and to us when the Lord Jesus comes from heaven for all to see, together with his powerful angels.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7 ERV) It makes sense that angels would accompany Him. But wait, there’s more! “13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” (1 Thessalonians 1:13 NIV) “It is quite possible that [the armies of Heaven] include the Old Testament saints, the Church, and the saints of the tribulation. Their clothing indicates that they are all saved people.”
It’s important to note, however, that the army will not need to fight. Jesus defeats the enemies on His own.
In verse 19, John sees the beast (aka the Antichrist) along with the kings of the earth prepared to fight. But before anyone yells “charge”, the Antichrist and the False Prophet are captured and cast into the lake of fire. This is “the final and permanent place of punishment for all who refuse to submit to Jesus Christ. ‘The beast’ and false prophet are the first persons to be cast into hell.”[xiii]
Last week, the harlot was taken out. This week, the False Prophet and the Antichrist met their demise. There’s just one more to go.
“Jesus came the first time to become your Savior, and He’s coming the second time to be your King. The coming of Christ to set up His kingdom will be so much different than when He came before. Consider the contrast between His first and second comings. He entered the world the first time in swaddling clothes; He will reign the second time in majestic purple. He came the first time as a weary traveler; He will return the second time as the untiring God.” “Once wicked soldiers bowed the knee in mockery; then every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Once He received a crown of thorns; then He will receive a crown of gold.” “Once He was laid in a tomb; then He will sit on a throne. When He comes again, there will be no doubt and no delay. He will be ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS’ (Revelation 19:16).” [xiv]
He may be your Savior, but have you allowed Him to be your King?
[i] What the Bible Says About Christ’s Second Coming – David Jeremiah Blog
[ii] ‘second coming’ type – Fonts In Use
[iii] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
[iv] Revelation by Lehman Strauss
[v] Revelation by Lehman Strauss
[vi] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
[vii] Topical Bible: Dowry (biblehub.com)
[viii] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
[ix] What does it mean that the church is the bride of Christ? | GotQuestions.org
[x] Revelation by Lehman Strauss
[xi] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
[xii] Revelation by Lehman Strauss
[xiii] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
[xiv] After the Rapture by Dr. David Jeremiah
Beacons of Light 