The Revelation of Jesus Christ

To the Apostle John

Chap. 19-22

THE LAMB AND HIS BRIDE

REVELATION 19:1-10

John opens the chapter with the familiar words, “After these things.”  Babylon is destroyed at the end of the Great Tribulation and finally, the time of wrath is over and the time of the Lord’s return is eminent.  In chapter 5, we were given a beautiful description of our coming King and Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, as the Lamb of God.  In chapter 19, we are introduced to the Lamb’s Bride.  This section of scripture bridges the Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom.

A great multitude in heaven joins in song, “Alleluia!  (Meaning, “Praise the Lord!”)  – Salvation is from our God.  Glory and power belong to Him alone.”  Who is this multitude?  These may be:

1. Tribulation believers who have been martyred (2 Cor.5:8) – they are there not in body, but in spirit.  When the Tribulation believers are killed, they are immediately in the presence of the Lord, awaiting the resurrection of their bodies when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to this earth in power and great glory.  They will join with the Old Testament Believers in the promised resurrection of the body when Christ returns  (Dan.12: 1-3)
2. 24 Elders- these may be the 12 Patriarchs and the 12 Apostles, or they may represent the church from the day of Pentecost until the rapture of the Church.
3. The four living creatures – the cherubim - the worship leaders of heaven 
4. The angles in chorus join the praise.

His Character Revealed

Verse 2 – “His judgments are just and true.”

·        He is faithful to His promise and His judgments are “just” because they are deserved.

·        He has judged the “great harlot” (the world-wide great religious and commercial system) and New Babylon’s destruction is complete.  “Her smoke rises up forever” – probably signifying the eternal punishment in hell of all unbelievers.

·        His earthly kingdom is coming- He, Jesus, has always ruled from heaven, now He will rule from earth, beginning with the Millennial Reign.

The multitude praises Him- “Salvation and glory and honor and power to the Lord our God.”  Salvation for His deliverance and reward to all who trust him, small and great; Glory – He alone deserves praise; Honor – He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords; Power – He is great and no one can do what He does.  It is our admonition also – to keep on praising God (vs.5)

The Marriage of the Lamb

There were three phases to a Jewish wedding in Bible times.  1.) A contract and dowry (often when the couple were children).  When the contract was finished, the couple was legally married though they were not to have sexual relations during the engagement and the actual ceremony; 2.)  The bridegroom takes the bride to His home (Matthew 25:1-13); 3.)  The actual marriage supper when the bridegroom comes to the bride’s home (John 2).  Jesus fulfills these with:

1)      Salvation - He signed the contract with His own blood and paid the price for our redemption;

2)      The Rapture when He took the bride (the church) to His home in heaven;

3)      The marriage supper at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom.

The bride (the church) is ready and the bridegroom is in heaven, preparing a place for her.  In fact, the moment a person accepts Christ as Savior he is ready.  Although the Judgment Seat of Christ (reward for believers only) is not described here, that work is done and the church can be presented to Christ “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27). Hallelujah!

19:8 - The bride is granted, “She is permitted to wear the finest white linen” – while Israel is known as the “wife of Jehovah”, yet the symbolism here excludes her from the picture.  Evidence of the bride’s identity is seen in Ephesians 5:27 (a glorious church).  It seems that the wedding apparel is most important – without it, no one can attend the wedding supper (Matt.22: 1-14).  The wedding apparel of the bride in Rev. 19:8 is the “righteous acts (good deeds) of the saints” – possibly the result of the rewards the Lord gives to believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The Wedding Apparel

We see the importance of the wedding apparel in Christ’s parables.  In Matt. 22:1-14, “The kingdom of heaven is likened to a marriage supper given by a certain king for his son.  Invitations were sent out, but the people did not respond, (which speaks of the apathy and rejection of those invited).  The king sent out other servants to once again urge those who were invited to come and join in the celebration already prepared and ready to enjoy.  They responded by making light of it and going their own way; some even responded by killing the king’s messengers.  The king was furious and sent out his army to destroy the murderers and to burn their city.”  This judgment described the coming destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

The following invitations sent out by the king illustrate the free offer of the gospel, extended to all, both good and bad.  The king came to the feast to greet the guests only to find one not dressed in the proper attire.  The guests were invited “from the highways,” and could not have been dressed properly, meaning that the king had provided the appropriate wedding apparel to each guest.  The offending guest had purposely rejected the king’s own gift to him.  This symbolizes those who identify with the kingdom externally, profess to be Christians, belong to the church in a visible sense - yet reject the garment of righteousness Christ offers.  Those who reject Christ are cast into the eternal darkness of hell.  “For many are called, but few are chosen.”  This “general” call goes out to all who hear the gospel.  Many hear it, but few respond.  Those who respond are the “chosen,” “the elect.”  In Paul’s writings, the word “call” usually refers to God’s irresistible calling extended to the elect alone (Romans 8:30) – know as the “effectual call” (or the “eternal call”).  The effectual call seen here is the supernatural drawing of God which Jesus speaks of in John 6:44.  This general call is the great “whosoever will” call of the gospel, displaying the proper balance between human responsibility and divine sovereignty.  The “called” that reject the invitation do so willingly, so their exclusion from heaven is just.  The “chosen” enter the kingdom only because of the grace of God in choosing and drawing them.

All of that to say that without the proper wedding apparel, one cannot attend the wedding supper.  The consequences are used to describe the curse of hell itself, “outer darkness...weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

“Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”  (vs.9).  It is the call of the Lord Himself that results in salvation (1 Cor. 1:9; Romans 1:6; Eph. 4:1).  The guests are those saved before Pentecost, all the faithful believers saved by faith through grace up until

19:9 - The angel says, “All these are the true words that come from God” What a great assurance and soon to be reality!  Believing Gentiles and Jews will sit down together at this celebration in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:11).

19:10 - John falls to his knees to worship the angel, dazzled and stunned by the reality and beauty of it all and is rebuked “Worship God and He alone!”  This is our purpose and our primary objective.  He alone is worthy.

The last verse (v.10) tells us again of Jesus, the central figure of prophecy, all of which is intended to glorify Him as Savior and Lord; “Worship God!  For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”  Jesus is not an angel, as some argue, but God Himself in human flesh.  Prophecy is intended to glorify Jesus Christ.  He is the central figure of it, and any teaching of prophecy that takes our minds and hearts away from Him is not being properly communicated.  It is all about Him!

His first miracle was done at a wedding in Cana and now it is His wedding feast- He has saved the best wine until the last.

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Revelation 19: 11-21 

It all comes down to this one dramatic moment – the return of Jesus Christ our Lord!  In the first chapter we read, “ Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him” (1:7).  That moment has arrived!

His Name (19:11-13, 16)

“ Now I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there.  And One sitting on it was named Faithful and True.  For He judges fairly and then go to war.  His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns.  A name was written on Him, and only He knew what it meant.  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.”  (Rev. 19:11-13).

Heaven is opened and John sees Jesus coming back to reclaim the earth from Satan and to establish His kingdom.  He comes riding on a white horse as a conquering victor, coming to destroy the wicked, to overthrow the Antichrist, to defeat Satan, and to take control of the earth.

 John saw Jesus as the “Faithful Witness” in Rev. 1:5 and the “Faithful and True Witness” in 3:14.  Every promise, every prophecy made by Him and about Him has now come true.  Our sins have been forgiven, He protects us from Satan, He will never forsake us - just about every page of the bible points to this time in history, and it’s all about Christ!  “He had a name written that no one knew except Himself,” (19:12); there is so much that we don’t understand about Him or His purpose, but we do know that He alone is “wonderful”(meaning “incomprehensible” in Hebrew), see (Isaiah 9:6), and He is our God.  How often have we used the name of Jesus as a curse word?  Men scorn his name even though it is through Him alone that salvation comes.

 Verse 13 says, “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood and His name is called The Word of God.”  This identifies him as Jesus Christ.  John wrote in his Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  The Bible closes with the same salutation; “His name is called the Word of God.”  His first appearance on earth was as a man full of grace and truth –“…and the Word was God…” - He comes back now to complete His task with war and blood.  The blood stained robe is not from the Battle of Armageddon, which will not have begun until v. 15.  Christ’s bloodstained clothing symbolizes the great battles He has already fought against sin, Satan, and death and been stained with the blood of His enemies.  It symbolizes also the death of the nations who come against Him, but the armies following Him are clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 

19:14 -“And the armies in heaven, dressed in pure white linen, followed Him on white horses.”  This army is composed of the church (v.8), tribulation saints (7:13) and OT believers, resurrected and glorified (Jude 14; Dan. 12:1,2), and even angels (Matt. 25:31).  During the Rapture, Christ returned for His saints and now He returns with them.  They return not to help Jesus in the battle (they are unarmed), but to reign with Him after He defeats His enemies (20:4; 1 Cor.6: 2).

19:15 - “Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword” – in the beginning, He spoke to create the world, in the end the last battle is won with a word!  No weapons, His voice alone will win the battle.  He does not need us to fight His battle, yet we will follow Him where He goes along with the legions of angels.

19:16 - He comes back as “King Of Kings And Lord Of Lords”, this time to rule the nations of the world forever in absolute sovereignty.  His eyes are full of the fire of His wrath - nothing escapes it.  The many crowns that he wears evidence his right to rule.  Verse 15 tells us “He Himself will rule with a rod of iron.”  No more of the often unfair and inefficient system of justice that prevails today: rather, swift and righteous judgment will be the rule.  It will be a rod that brings order and justice to the world.

19:17-18 - The Terrible Destruction to Come - Armageddon has arrived!  The final war of humanity, feared and predicted for so many years, now takes place.  The whole world will know that Jesus Christ is Lord.  An angel calls to all the birds of the heavens, “Come, gather together for “the great banquet God” -all the kings of the earth, it’s great captains and mighty men and the flesh of all people who partake in the battle will be destroyed, their flesh and blood to be devoured by the birds.

Matthew 24:27-28 speaks of this: “For as the lightening comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of man be.  For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

19:19-21- The Beast and His Armies Defeated

The Antichrist and his associate, the false prophet, have assembled “all the kings of the earth” for “the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”  They are gathered together to make war against him who sits on the white horse and against His army.  2 Thess. 1:7-10 tells of “His coming in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."  The beast and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire – the first of the countless millions of unrepentant men and fallen angels to arrive in that awful place.  The lake of fire is the final hell, the place of eternal punishment for all unrepentant sinners, angelic or human.  What judgment!  These two evil ones will experience a thousand years of torment and suffering before the rest of the unbelievers are judged.  The remainders of the armies are killed with the sword from out of the mouth of Christ.

Matthew 25:31-46 tells us that there will be survivors among the nations of the world who will stand before the Lord and receive either commendation of their kindness to the people of Israel during the tribulation period or eternal condemnation for their rebellion and indifference to the people of God.  This Judgment of the Nations will occur at the end of the tribulation period when Christ returns to earth.  (See Daniel 12 and Joel 3).  Daniel 12:1-3 shows the righteous dead resurrected and going into the Millennial Kingdom.  This group includes Old Testament believers as well as tribulation believers who have been martyred.  This is sometimes known as “the separation of the sheep and the goats”, the sheep inheriting the kingdom “prepared for you from before the foundation of the world,” and the goats, the cursed, unrepentant sinners, doomed to everlasting fire and punishment.

The phrase, “prepared for you from before the foundation of the earth,” shows that salvation is clearly a wonderful gift from a gracious God, not something merited by the deeds described in Matt. 25: 35,36.  Before “the foundation of the earth,” they were chosen by God and ordained to be holy (Eph. 1:4) – predestined to be conformed to Christ’s image (Romans 8:29).  These good deeds that they do for Christ are not the criteria for their salvation, it is by Christ’s grace alone.  The deeds are the criteria for the judgment (reward) they receive for works done (James 2:14-26).

We don’t understand it all and sometimes have difficulty following the sequence of the events, but certain facts are clear from our study:

1.      The return of Jesus Christ our Lord to this earth.

2.      The defeat and destruction of the unbelieving nations.

3.    The eternal punishment of the wicked. 

4.    The bodily resurrection and eternal life of all who believe in the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Millennial Reign of Christ

Revelation 20: 1-15

The thousand-year reign of Christ and His saints is about to begin – the Millennium is here.  A brief overview of the chapter might look like this:

1.      Satan is bound, cast into the bottomless pit and cannot deceive the nations until the thousand year period is over (v.2-3)

2.      Tribulation martyrs will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years (v.4)

3.      Other dead (the bodies of unbelievers of all ages –their souls are in Hades) will not live again until the thousand years is over (v.5)

4.      Those who are part of the first resurrection (those who are Christ’s at His coming, the redeemed of the Church Age, the Old Testament and Tribulation believers) will reign with Christ for a thousand years (v.6)

5.      After the thousand years is over, Satan will be released (v.7)

6.      Satan deceives the unbelieving nations once again, they come against God for the last time, are destroyed, and cast into the lake of fire (v. 8-10)

7.      The Great White Throne Judgment takes place – the unbelieving dead, of all ages past, are judged (v. 11-15).

20:1-3 - An angel once again appears on the scene, this time with a great chain in his hand, a chain designed to bind Satan for a thousand years.  Satan is that “great fiery red dragon with seven heads and ten horns” (12:3), the beast of 13:1 and 17:7-18.  He is “that serpent of old,” the great deceiver the world first saw in the Garden of Eden.  The angel binds him up, casts him into the abyss, shuts him up and sets a seal on him “so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years is over “(v.3).  The reference to the nations in verse 3 tells us that not all of the nations of the earth are destroyed at the Battle of Armageddon, only the kings and their armies.  Zechariah 14:16 tells us clearly that those left after the war will go up yearly to Jerusalem to worship and honor the Lord.

20: 4-6 - The Saints Reign With Christ - John sees thrones and on those thrones are the twenty-four elders of Rev. 4:4, who represent the completed church in heaven.  Matthew 19:28 quotes Jesus “…when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”  The judgment is referred to in Ezekiel 20:33-38 as the casting out of rebels.  The Jewish believers of the past who are resurrected at the end of the Tribulation Period (Dan. 12:1-3) and all the Tribulation Believers (v.4) are at this time given their rewards.  The first resurrection consists of Jesus as the “first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” and “ afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1Cor. 15:20-23).  “Those who are Christ’s will be raised and enter the heavenly kingdom in three stages at Christ’s coming: 1) those who have come to saving faith from Pentecost to the Rapture will be joined by the living saints at the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:16,17); 2) those who come to faith during the Trib., with the OT saints as well, will be raised up to reign with Him during the Millennium (Rev. 20:4) Dan. 12:2; Is. 26:19,20); and 3) those who die during the Millennial kingdom may be instantly transformed at death into their eternal bodies and spirits.  The only people left to be raised will be the ungodly and that will occur at the end of the Millennium, at the Great White Throne Judgment.  Verse 6 calls the saints, “blessed and holy” and “over these the second death (which is eternal in the Lake of Fire) will have no power.”  We will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for one thousand years.

20:7-10 - Satan’s Rebellion - The great deceiver is released after the thousand years and he immediately is back to his old tricks of deceiving the nations.  Who are the nations?  Those children born to those who enter the millennial reign in their earthly bodies.  Some will obey outwardly but still the depravity of man is present in their hearts.  The huge army, whose number is as the sand of the sea, that gathers to do war against Christ is once again called Gog and Magog and God consumes them all with fire from heaven. Note: this is not to be confused with the Battle of Ezekiel 38,39, where God’s enemies are also called Gog and Magog.

Why does God allow Satan this last effort?  It has been said that God demonstrates by this one final event that even under the best of conditions, mans problem is in the heart.  Another possibility is that God is demonstrating that Satan’s depravity cannot be cured and that God is just in His eternal judgment of him and those who choose to follow him.

Satan and his followers come against God and against His Holy City Jerusalem and are destroyed by fire and brimstone as in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  The final rebellion of mankind is over!  Satan and his followers are cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone where they will be tormented forever.

20:11-15 - The Great White Throne Judgment

Jesus Christ Himself sits on this throne of judgment.  White pictures the purity and righteousness of the One Who is the judge of all men.  He is so awesome in appearance that the earth and the heavens literally flee from His face.  Can we say that the earth is uncreated?

Who stands before Him in judgment?  All living sinners have just been destroyed and all believers have been glorified – these who stand before the throne are the unrighteous that are resurrected at the end of the Millennium for judgment.  They stand before God awaiting their just judgment.  They are judged for their works (v.12), by the things written in the books kept in heaven.  The critical book that decides their fate is “The Book Of Life,” which contains the names of all true believers, names which cannot be erased (3:5), and which are written there “from the foundation of the world” (13:8; 17:8).  They are now cast into the Lake of Fire (20:14).  This final judgment is called the “second death” and is only for unbelievers.  For eternity, no one will ever die again (21:14). 

The Bible has warned of this terrible judgment many times and warned us to flee from the terrible wrath of God, repent and believe in the Lord Jesus as Savior.  There is still time!

Chapter 21 -22 –The New Jerusalem - All Things Made New

God’s judgment is complete, His wrath is satisfied and rewards are handed out.  It’s time for all things to be made new.  We saw the heavens and the earth flee from the face of God in 20:11, now we see a new heaven and a new earth as well as the New Jerusalem.  We are also introduced to “the wife of the Lamb”(21:9,10).

21:1 - John sees a new heaven in verse 1.  Many people don’t believe in this present heaven, even though it is mentioned over seven hundred times in the Bible.  The Book tells us that there are three heavens: first heaven – earth’s atmosphere; second heaven – outer space (stars, planets, galaxies); third heaven – where God lives.  It is a real place!  Hebrews 11:10 calls it  “the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”  The New Jerusalem comes down from the third heaven where it is being prepared at this very time, and it comes to the new earth.  It isn’t necessary to believe that the earth and heavens as we know it will be completely destroyed.  We were told that fire would purge the earth and now God makes them new  - He regenerates them.

Our home for eternity comes down out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  God is the Designer, the Builder and Maker (Heb. 11:10).  God identifies the city as “the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife” and the inhabitants of the city are also the “Bride.”

When Christ was on the earth, He “tabernacled” among us “and we beheld His glory” (John 1:14, 18), and today the Holy Spirit lives in us.  But in this end time, all the fullness and glory of God will be ours as He comes to “dwell with them, and they shall be His people” (21:3).  This life is so full of struggle pain and hardship and now He “wipes away every tear, and there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.”  “For the old world and its evils are gone forever.”

20:5-8 - Jesus, the “Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” makes all things new.  He says, “It is finished” (v.6).  The same One who declared, “Let there be light” finishes His creation.  What marvelous words!  What assurance!  What blessing as he promises to all that thirst that they would drink freely from the water of life (20: 6).  Then He gives a reminder – all those who reject Him and take part in sin without repentance “ their doom is in the Lake of Fire, the second death.” 

21:9-27 - The New Jerusalem

An angel invites John to see “the Bride, the wife of the Lamb,” (the “bride” is both the church and the New Jerusalem) and he watches it descend from Heaven, having the glory of God.”  It reflects all that God is and we will be able to partake in the wonder of His nature forever!  Can you imagine the awe that John must have been overcome with?

21:11 - A spectacular light, the glory of God, comes from the city as from a jasper or diamond.  She has a great and high wall – two hundred feet high or thick with twelve gates and twelve angels at the gates and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on them.  The Holy City has twelve foundations with the names of the apostles written on them.  The mention of Israel and the apostles indicates that the city is intended for all believers from all time.

21:16 - The city is laid out as a square, the length and width are equal, each side about fourteen hundred miles.  The height is the same as the length and width – some believe it is a cube, some believe it is a pyramid.  The wall was of jasper (diamond), the city of pure gold, transparent, clear as glass.  The foundations were adorned with precious gems, radiant, and beautiful beyond description.  The foundations may be stacked one on top of the other, or they may be foundations under the twelve gates.  Each gate was made of one solid pearl.  One commentator tells of the oyster making a pearl, receiving an irritation or wound.  Around the offending article, the oyster builds a pearl.  The pearl is the answer of the oyster to that which injured it.  He goes on to say that access to God’s home is only because of Calvary.  Salvation is like that pearl, the answer to His suffering.  Every time we enter those precious gates, we are reminded of the One who hung upon a tree and whose answer to those who injured Him was to invite them to share His home.  What a God!

21:22 -There is no temple found in the city.  The Millennial Reign of Christ will have a temple, but not this city.  The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is the only temple we will need.  The “glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light.”  Jesus claimed to be the “light of the world”, a symbolic phrase and answer for a dark and lost world.  Now He is our literal light forever.

21:25 - The gates of the city are never shut and the redeemed people (those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life) of the earth, from every nation and ethnic group, are free to come and go without restriction and the kings of the earth will bring their glory and honor to it.  Sin will be gone forever, the devil and his angels in hell and all unbelievers in the lake of fire.  Incredible Joy will reign forever.

Revelation 22: 1-5