Chapter 19
This chapter is the beginning of the third and final section of the book of Revelation. Everything has been preparatory until now. All has been pointing to the Second Advent of Jesus, which takes place in this chapter. The remainder of this section deals with those eternal events that follow His coming. This is the revelation!
The first ten verses are parenthetical and explain the rejoicing in heaven over the destruction of Babylon. It is the ninth and last parenthetical section in the book.
The Heavenly Hosts Praise God
“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 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.” (Revelation 19:1-5).
John hears, what seems like, all heaven singing praise to God for His righteous judgment on Babylon. The destruction of the city causes great fissures in the earth. Smoke, like a furnace, will ascend as a constant reminder of God’s faithful judgment on the city, and her system that corrupted the whole earth.
There are four Greek “Alleluias” in the text. In Hebrew it is pronounced Hallelujah. The meaning is “praise ye Jehovah.” (See Psalms 106, 111, 112 and 113.)
The Marriage of the Lamb
“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, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:6-10).
The book of Revelation is written to the seven Jewish assemblies (churches). They will be in the Tribulation, in the Day of the Lord. The church, which is Christ’s body, will be raptured before that day begins. Therefore, the church of this dispensation is not in view in the Book of Revelation. The reference to the wife and the marriage, as we shall see, speaks of Israel and her land. It has nothing to do with a Gentile church.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.