Revelation 19:1-10
Wednesday Evening Bible Study
October 8, 1997
Introduction
We’ve spent a few weeks now looking at the judgment and destruction of "Mystery Babylon".
This is one of the events near the very end of the Great Tribulation.
"Mystery Babylon", if not the Roman Catholic Church, will be something very similar to it.
It seems to have to do with the kind of heresies that lead people away from the worship of God, and even lead them to persecute believers. It also may be possibly linked with an actual restored city of Babylon, in modern Iraq.
We saw that the destruction of Babylon, though decreed by God, appears to be carried out by the ten nation confederacy of the antichrist (Rev. 17:16).
The destruction of Babylon to me seems to be a separate event from the Battle of Armageddon, though they may occur relatively close to each other.
The destruction of Babylon takes place in chapters 17 & 18, the actual battle of Armageddon takes place at the end of chapter 19.
Revelation 19
:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying,
people – ochlos – a crowd; a multitude
To be fair, this may not just be humans, but angels as well.
:1 Alleluia
This is the Greek form of the Hebrew word "Hallelujah".
Hallelujah is a compound of two words, "hallel", meaning to "praise", and "Jah" (pronounced "Yah"), a shortened form of "Yahweh".
Meaning "Praise Yahweh" or, "Praise the Lord".
This Greek word only appears in the New Testament four times, all in this chapter (19:1,3,4,6)
In the Old Testament, the two words "hallel" and "jah" are found together 26 times, all in the Psalms, and are simply translated into the English as "Praise the LORD", or something very similar ("praise ye the LORD", etc.).
:1 Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
Salvation – our salvation from the consequences of our own sins can only come from God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Glory – all respect and admiration should go to God and God alone.
Honour – the Greek word (tim-ay) speaks of the price of value of an object. The only true value and priceless thing in the universe is God alone. He alone should have the highest value in our lives.
Power – the Greek word (dunamis) speaks not only of strength, but mostly of ability. Only God is able to do everything. Only God is able to give us the power to live as we ought to live.
Lesson:
Add content to your worship.
I think that for some of us, worship can be nothing more than just a bunch of "praise the Lords" or "I love You Lords".
Perhaps it’s because we don’t see Him as the multitude in heaven does.
But I think our worship time will be much more valuable if we take time to put a little more content into our praise.
What is it about God that makes you praise Him?
What has He done in your life to demonstrate that He is worthy of your honor?
Illustration
I think that sometimes in a marriage, we cheat each other in much the same way.
We can get used to saying "I love you" so much that it doesn’t really mean anything anymore.
When was the last time you sat down and really thought about some of the reasons you love your spouse, and then told them?
:2 For true and righteous are his judgments
This is from the perspective of heaven.
Those in heaven are watching all the things that have gone on down on earth.
And they declare that God is completely correct in all His judgment.
Lesson:
God doesn’t make mistakes.
Those who see it all aren’t saying "God, You aren’t fair".
Illustration
Corrie ten Boom often showed a piece of embroidery to her audiences. She would hold up the piece of cloth, first showing the beauty of the embroidered side, with all the threads forming a beautiful picture, which she described as the plan God has for our lives. Then she would flip it over to show the tangled, confused underside, illustrating how we view our lives from a human standpoint.
For some of you, you’re struggling with your circumstances because you just don’t see the whole picture yet.
:2 for he hath judged the great , which did corrupt the earth with her fornication,
We’ve seen the destruction of Babylon.
:2 and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
This was one of the chief characteristics of Babylon, the persecution of believers.
We saw that Babylon, as this , was drunk with the blood of the saints.
(Rev 17:6 KJV) And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Lesson:
God will take care of it.
We’ve mentioned this before, but God doesn’t want us taking our own vengeance. He doesn’t want you to "get even".
He’ll take care of it.
(Rom 12:19 KJV) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Illustration
David had experienced a few "injustices" at work. His boss had stopped promoting him, and in fact, was starting to throw spears at him for target practice.
Finally David got the hint and decided to run for his life, but with Saul and his army chasing close behind.
Twice David found himself within inches of being able to kill Saul and take his own vengeance. But David could not bring himself to do it, and was even struck with guilt for having snipped off a corner of Saul’s robe.
Instead, David trusted God to take care of Saul. All David had to do was stay out of Saul’s spear range. He told Saul:
(1 Sam 26:23-24 KJV) The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed. {24} And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
That was in chapter 26. By chapter 29, Saul was dead at the hand of the Philistines, God allowing his death because of his rebellion against God. (1Chr. 10:13)
:3 And again they said, Alleluia.
Or, literally, "and they said a second time …"
We’re going to see four "Alleluias"
:3 And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
Present tense. Better translation, "and her smoke rises up for ever and ever".
It would seem that Babylon is never going to be rebuilt, but instead will be burning forever.
:4 the four and twenty elders … Alleluia
We’ve seen these two groups since chapter 4.
The 24 elders seem to represent the leadership of those saved by God, 12 from Israel, 12 from the Church.
The 4 beasts are the four "living creatures", also known as the "cherubim". They are special angelic beings that kind of hover around God’s thrown, and being covered with eyes, they see everything that goes on.
This is now the third "Alleluia".
:5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
It seems that God has a talking throne.
All of God’s servants are now commanded to give God praise.
I think this could even be referring to all creation, not just human servants.
This no doubt includes us, so learn these words well!
You don't want to be standing there like a hick from the sticks, whispering to those around you, "Hey, can anybody tell me what those words are again?"
:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings
There’s quite a response to the prompting of the worship leader.
:6 Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Here’s the fourth "Alleluia".
He is Lord – Master over all.
He is God.
He is omnipotent – "all powerful".
He reigneth – lit., He is King, He is in control.
:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him:
"glad and rejoice" – two very similar words, both talking about an incredible amount of joy, praise, exultation.
"honour" – actually it’s the word for "glory" (doxa)
:7 for the marriage of the Lamb is come
Past tense (aorist), better translated "has come".
The Hebrew Marriage went through several stages (see if any of this sounds familiar):
1) The Betrothal (shiddukhin)- the prospective groom’s traveling from his father’s house to the home of the prospective bride, paying purchase price, and thus establishing the marriage covenant (ketubah). Usually arranged by the parents. Binding and could only be broken by a form of divorce. Any unfaithfulness during the engagement was considered adultery.
2) The groom returns to his father’s house and remained separate from his bride during which time he prepared the living accommodations for his bride in or near his father’s house.
3) The groom comes for his bride at a time not known exactly to her; she lived in expectation until he surprises her on his return.
4) His return with her to the groom’s father’s house for the wedding ceremony (huppah), to consummate the marriage and to celebrate the wedding feast for the next seven days (during which the bride remained closeted in her bridal chamber).
Technically, we’re at the end of the entire ceremony.
When the Rapture takes us to heaven, the feast is going to start.
:7 his wife hath made herself ready
made herself ready – hetoimazo – prepare; to make the necessary preparations; drawn from the oriental custom of sending on before kings on their journeys persons to level the roads and make them passable
Lesson:
Get ready for His return.
Peter wrote,
(2 Pet 3:11 NLT) Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living!
Does your life show how much you believe Jesus is coming back soon?
It certainly does. One way or the other.
:8 And to her was granted
Note the grace.
Even though we’re going to be talking about how the white linen is a picture of righteous deeds, yet even these are given to the bride.
God actually has a special plan for each of our lives, made up of special things He wants us to do, and He designed it long before we ever did them –
(Eph 2:10 KJV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
:8 that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white
fine linen – bussos – linen made from byssus (a species of Egyptian flax), very costly, delicate, soft, white and also of a yellow color.
This is where we get the idea of dressing up our brides in white.
It’s kind of funny though to see that this is what the armies in heaven are wearing when they come back with Jesus:
Re 19:14 And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
It’s humorous to think of an army wearing wedding dresses …
clean – katharos – clean, pure; either physically clean, or clean in the Levitical sense (clean versus unclean), or clean in a moral sense of free from guilt and sin.
white – lampros – shining; brilliant; splendid, magnificent; it comes from lampas, a torch or lamp.
:8 for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Righteousness – dikaioma – this isn’t the word for "righteousness" proper (dikaios), it’s the a righteous act or deed; the work of righteousness.
Remember Jesus’ words to the church –
(Rev 16:15 KJV) Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Be careful how you’re dressed!
Lesson:
Doing what’s pleasing to the Lord.
We get these next three things based on the description earlier in verse 8.
1) What’s given us to do.
Be careful to ask God what He wants you to do.
Don’t just copy others around you.
Ask God.
(Prov 3:5-6 KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. {6} In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
2) What is clean
There should be a purity about the things we do for the Lord.
I get concerned when I see guys "called" to minister to the gals. Leave it to the women.
Some people want to "serve the Lord" just so they can get up in front of a lot of people and get all that attention they crave.
Some people like to "minister" to others just so they can get a thrill of telling others what to do.
Our "righteous deeds" ought to be spotless, pure, clean.
3) What is a light to others
When we do what God wants us to, people will see God’s hand, God’s love, God’s purpose.
Jesus said,
Mt 5:16 Let your light so shine
(same word as "white" here in verse 8) before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.Let others see what God wants to do in their lives.
:9 And he saith unto me,
Who’s the "he"?
I believe it’s one of the seven bowl angels, the one that came to talk with John back in 17:1.
Even though we’ve seen several other angels since, it seems that the picture is that this angel has been standing with John, showing him all about the destruction of Babylon. And now this angel instructs John to write something.
:9 Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.
The blessing isn’t just in being called or invited to the marriage supper, but accepting the invitation.
Yet how can people accept if they haven't been invited?
Lesson:
Send out the invitations.
Witnessing is simply extending an invitation to the party.
(Rom 10:13-15 NLT) For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." {14} But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? {15} And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
:9 And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
You can believe all that’s been seen and heard.
:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me,
Somehow, in a moment of weakness, John falls on his knees before the angel.
:10 See thou do it not:
or, literally, "see not", another way of saying "STOP THAT!"
Lesson:
Don’t worship angels.
Men are not to worship angels.
Today there’s lots of interest in angels.
They’re pretty cool creatures, but they are not to be worshipped.
Lesson:
Don’t worship men.
And if mankind is considered "lower" than angels, then we certainly aren’t to be worshipping other men, even if they’re dead.
The worship of Mary in the Catholic church is getting to the point where there’s a group petitioning the pope to make on of his infallible "decrees" declaring that Mary is a "co-redemptress" of Jesus. That Mary is an equal with Jesus, and she helps in paying for our sins.
I think if Mary herself were to have something to say about it, she would say, "See thou do it not".
Even Peter and Paul understood this, when at times, people wanted to worship them. See (Acts 10:25-26; 14:11-15,18)
:10 I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
The angel only sees himself as just another servant alongside John and the others with the testimony of Jesus.
Lesson:
You’ve got angels on your side.
(Heb 1:14 KJV) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
(Psa 34:7 KJV) The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
:10 worship God
There is only one worthy of our worship. God.
Do you think Jesus realized this when the disciples worshipped Him after calming the storm?
Mt 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Or when the blind man worshipped Him?
Joh 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Or when Thomas worshipped Him?
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Of course, Jesus IS God.
:10 for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
We could say, "the testimony about Jesus is the essence of prophecy"
(John 5:39 KJV) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.