Reflection on Revelation 19

Revelation 19 is a picture of "Who is the winner." At first, John heard the roar of a great multitude in heaven, their joyful chorus of "Hallelujah". They celebrate God's just in the destruction of Babylon. God has exercised great patient toward Babylon, who refused to repent. Now He rightly judges this wicked city that murdered His people and corrupted the earth. Before Jesus went to the cross, He mourned over an unrepentant Jerusalem. At the present time, God's people grieve over those who do not know Him. But there will be no tears over the deaths of those who have persistently rejected the Savior. No trace of sadness will mar heaven's happiness on the day of Babylon's destruction.

Today is still the day of salvation, the time to repent. God takes "no pleasure in the death of the wicked." He yearns for people to "turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die...?"(Ezekiel 33:11) God alone truly knows how dreadful His justice will be for His enemies. He is the holy and sovereign Judge who pleads with people to turn to Him and live.

A second "Hallelujah!" rings out from the great multitude, praising God for ending forever Babylon's wicked ways. The smoke from the fires of Babylon's destruction will rise forever.

A third shout of "Amen, Hallelujah!" crying out from the twenty four elders and four living creatures. The inner circle of worshippers fall down at God's throne and express absolute agreement that every act of God is just and true. Immediately, a voice from the throne calls out, "Praise our God, all you His servant, you who fear Him, both small and great!" To love God is to know His ways and long to praise Him for all He does. Because every act of God calls for worship, and every attribute of God is praiseworthy.

John then "heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder." The citizens of heaven shout the fourth "Hallelujah!" Hallelujah rings out four times in the six opening verses of this chapter, which is the only place in the entire New Testament that this term appears. Because "For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 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. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." John explains that her wedding dress "stands for the righteous acts of the saints." John also makes clear that "righteous acts" do not merit salvation, as the bride's clothing is given to her as a gift from her Bridegroom. The Bridegroom is the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. His bride is the Church, composed of His redeemed people. The Lamb purchased His bride by laying down His life for her at the cross, now clothes her "with garments of salvation" and "a robe of His righteousness." The amazing gift of salvation compels the Lamb's bride to "make herself ready," demonstrated by her righteous deeds. The most commonplace activities, if done for Christ through the Holy Spirit, are counted "righteous" by God, full of eternal significance.

The angel then directed John to "Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" The bride is the Church, seen in its entirety; the wedding guests are believers, seen as individuals. To underscore this tremendous blessing, the angel solemnly adds, "These are the true words of God." This invitation is the best, the most significant invitation to anyone. John heard Jesus promised His disciples they would live with Him forever. Now the angel assures John this promised blessing of union with Christ is the joyful start of the full reality of external life with Christ.

Overwhelmed by the majesty of all he has seen and heard, overwhelmed by the good news that he is about to see his Lord, holding the invitation he just got, John fell at the angel's feet to worship him. The angel quickly rebuked him, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony for Jesus. Worship God!" All glory belongs to God. Worship God. Nothing and no one, not even a magnificent angel, is to be worshipped. The Holy Spirit allows John to let us know the mistake he made here, even at his mature age. Because we are so easily intend to elevate others. We are good at making humble servants heroes.

Now heaven stands open before John's eyes. There appears One who rides on a white horse. The rider "is called Faithful and True", is the Lord Jesus Christ. "With justice He judges and makes war." Jesus can be trusted to judge faithfully and fairly because "His eyes are like blazing fire." He has clear and complete vision of every person and knows the secrets of every heart. He knows all people's actions and motivations behind those actions. "On His head are many crowns," which signify His absolute rule over every nation and person. I love it when John says, "He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself." There is still a name, a mysterious name we cannot know, because we cannot fathom His majesty in our finite nature. This name is reserved for eternity. The Lord "is dressed in a robe dipped in blood" when He comes from heaven. This suggests not blood from the battlefield, but from Christ Himself. None of His enemies' blood will spoil His robe. Instead, He shed His own blood to wash away His people's sin. He is the Savior whose blood saves His people. Jesus carries out God's purposes so fully that the Word of God and the person of Jesus Christ are one and the same. The armies of heaven dressed in white follow Jesus on white horse. The warriors' clothing resembles the clothing of the bride, will not get spoiled by the enemies’ blood either, because the Lord wins the battle in a split of a second. "Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations."  The battle is over with His powerful Word. Jesus reigns without rival. He will rule the nations with an iron scepter. And, "He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty." He reigns and judges. He is the final winner. One day all creation, including both His people and His enemies, will recognize Jesus Christ is "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." The name is "on His robe and on His thigh."

The stage is set for the final scene. John sees "an angel standing in the sun." The brilliant angel calls "all the birds flying in midair" to "gather together for the great supper of God." While the redeemed are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, those who rebel against God will also attend a great feast for birds, they will be the main course! The birds will wait to "eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." The leaders of the rebels, the beast and the false prophet are captured, are "thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur." At last, the reign of deception carried out by the beast and the false prophet ends. The battle is over before it starts, for the battle was already won on Calvary, where Christ conquers not by first shedding His enemies' blood, but by shedding His own blood.

(Today is Maundy Thursday, the day of Last Supper)