Introduction: Christians are deeply devoted to and have a love for truth, godliness, justice, and integrity – what the Bible calls “uprightness”. It goes without saying that we love the love of GOD, the joy and peace of the LORD; that we love the LORD!
Because we have such a love for GOD and all of His attributes (as listed here), we have a deep-rooted hatred for all that He hates, namely sin, injustice, oppression, deception, and evil in all of its ugly, offensive forms. Yet we saints have lived in such a world that is inundated with these vile, baneful qualities of the kingdom of darkness all of our lives. We’ve never known a world without them.
In today’s world, and most recently, the kingdom of darkness has put their agenda into high gear, and it’s becoming more and more apparent that this anti-Christ system, euphemistically dubbed “the Great Reset” (like that’s such a good thing (??!)) is forming up and preparing the way for the one world leader’s soon arrival.
We as the saints of GOD are therefore longing with deepest (well nigh painful) yearning to depart from Planet Rebel and go Home to be with the LORD! While grieved at the increase of wickedness, not just in the public arena, but in our politics, our economics, in government as well as the world’s religions, we are also excited about the soon departure from this world!
Saints let me tell you, it’s no longer a daily prayer of mine that the LORD bring us Home, raptured in a “twinkling of an eye”, but now an hourly petition!
We understand that once we’re gone, both the living and the dead in Christ, that this will spark off the final age of sinful man that will last a brief seven years until the events that transpire in this chapter occur: The removal of the anti-Christ, the false prophet and Satan himself from their place of power; the consignment of these two beasts to Gehenna (the second death, aka the lake of fire) and Satan into the abyss for 1,000 years are seen here.
PART ONE
Then commences the gloriously exhilarating, most awesome kingdom Reign of the Messiah wherein people “will learn war no more”!! Where “peace on earth and good will to men” will finally be realized under the benevolent rule of the Messiah King of Israel, along with ourselves. The bride of Christ will rule and reign beside Him (what a profound and astounding honor!)!! A holy and righteous reign of the King of Israel, as has been promised through the length and breadth of Scripture:
The Davidic Covenant (2 SAM 7:11-16); God promised David a royal dynasty (ISAIAH 7:13); an eternal throne (2 SAM 7:13,16,19 (see also LUKE 1:31-33; 1 CHRON 17:12; 22:10; ISAIAH 55:3; EZEK 37:25); A political kingdom (GEN 17:2-8); It was even confirmed by oath (PSALM 132:11; 89:3, 4,34); This cannot be applied to the Church (EZEK 37:21-28); It was this future throne that was recognized by the First Church Council in ACTS (ACTS 15:16-18, quoting AMOS 9:11-12, Cf. JER 30:7,11,18).
Our grief and burden under the weight of this wicked world will be tossed aside and forgotten!! Once we are raptured off Planet Rebel, our feet will never walk in a world ruled by evil, ever again!! How gratifying it will be to see truth and justice, grace and peace, holiness and righteousness prevail by the Almighty Hand of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ!!
And it all begins here in chapter 19, that which was declared and promised back in:
REVELATION 11:15
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever!!!
MARANATHA – Even so, Come quickly LORD Jesus!
REVELATION 19:1-3
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: 2 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. 3 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
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: 2 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. 3 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
We turn our attention from the blasphemous iniquity that has flooded the Earth because of this Mother of Harlots, the Beast, and his global system of evil and turn it towards glory; that heavenly domain of absolute holiness and power!
Truth and justice are ‘Siamese twins’ – you can’t have one without the other. In the world today the idea of objective and absolute truth is denied, and relegated to mere relativity or worse, that truth doesn’t exist. How long can any civilization last that denies truth? Can justice survive if dissected from her twin?
History is replete with examples of the demise of civilizations that rejected truth; Israel rejected truth to her own perilous destruction (ISAIAH 59). We see an echo of this in America and Western Civilization as a whole today.
Yet one cannot destroy truth; it’s beyond the wanton, covetous grappling and bloody hands of mere men (as well as fallen angels and demons for that matter) to reach its lofty throne in order to bring it down and defile it. Truth is eternal, it is immutable, it is resolute and determined because it’s no mere concept or philosophical abstraction; rather the truth is a Person, Who happens to be Almighty GOD made flesh (JOHN 14:6; 1:14).
REV 19:1 “After these things” – meta tauta in the Greek, as seen previously in this book, (REV 4:1 [here rendered as “after this”]; REV 7:1; 18:1; 19:1) marks a closing of events and the commencement of something different or new. New indeed; for the LORD Jesus Christ returns to reign!
Alleluia – the glory of GOD is founded in Truth; salvation is founded in Truth; the Truth of GOD exalts in His glory and honor and testifies of His power!
Every wrong-doing, every exploitation, every sin and trespass and transgression will be brought under the blindingly brilliant Light of our Holy GOD and seen by those eyes of fire, examining not only the deeds themselves, but the motives behind those deeds.
Every unholy and vile element of these wrong-doings will be laid bare before the holy domain of heaven (MATT 10:26-28; LUKE 8:17) and judged to the highest standard there is: the Law of GOD! In this judgment not one word will be uttered by any soul that stands before the Holy GOD. They’ll be entirely disabled to offer any defense on their own behalf (ROM 3:19; but that is for another upcoming chapter).
Here it’s the judgment of the great whore and the bloodshed she caused, of all the holy saints that she slaughtered throughout the ages. Retribution will be an awesome and terrifying thing to behold, but one that will beckon the saints to worship GOD for His purity of justice and righteousness!
JEREMIAH 23:5
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Picture yourself, child of the most High GOD in this scene, for you will be there! What will it be like, to be in the midst of this throng of worshiping congregants?!
REVELATION 19:4-6
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; 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. 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, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
These twenty four elders are seen once again (but not afterwards; suddenly we see in their stead “the bride of Christ” which strongly alludes to the idea that they are in fact, one and the same, just by different names). These elders are seen previously on thrones and with crowns of gold that they willingly cast at the feet of He Who sits on The throne in an act of adoration, and accrediting glory to the One who enabled them to inherit those crowns.
These who had harps and golden vials (incense burners) in priestly ministry (REV 4:4,10; 5:8,14; 11:16). These are both kings and priests? It was never seen in Israel; the kings always came from Judah; the priests from Levi. In Melchizedek (a type of Christ) we see both offices held; we know the same for Christ the King and our High Priest – and also of the church (a kingdom of priests that rule alongside of Christ; REV 5:10).
These four ‘beasts’ or “living creatures” – (zoon in the Greek) are likewise in attendance that worship GOD day and night, unceasingly (REV 4:8). I believe these are seraphim; their description seems to match ISAIAH 6:1-2,6-7, and they’re saying the same things as well, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD [of hosts] …”.
Angelology is a fascinating study (Note: TTUF does not endorse everything included on this site, but merely presents it as an example), typically included in any set of Systematic Theology. It’s a subject I’ve got on my radar these days. Getting back to these “living creatures” …
Perhaps one of these is the voice that is heard which declares:
“Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great”.
Saints (“both small and great”), garbed in white, as far as the eye can see – like a dazzling ivory ocean, with wave after wave of exclamatory praises and worship thundering across the masses towards the Holy Throne of GOD! “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
It’s interesting to note that there are distinctions of saints in heaven; rank and file – “small and great”.
Heaven and eternal life are granted freely (ROM 6:23b) to all who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and place their faith in Him; however there are rewards given in heaven for service (ROM 14:10; 2 COR 5:10). This apparently will determine which of us will be great or small (LUKE 19:12-19), and everywhere in between.
REVELATION 19:6 – Was there ever any doubt of the LORD GOD reigning in omnipotence?
In reflecting on this question, I think in the darkest hours of persecution, amidst the most fiendish devices of the devil that prolonged the suffering of tortured saints, agonizing to be delivered and were not (HEB 11:36-39) so that they could obtain “a better resurrection” (HEB 11:35); in a single moment of weakness, the temptation to believe that GOD did not reign omnipotently – or worse, that He cared not for the state of these suffering saints, such doubts could arise.
Yet the grace of GOD is provided, and if accepted by the saint, a victorious witness prevails even if at first the saint falters, as was the case with Thomas Cranmer.
This is why it’s vital that we do not allow our circumstances to dictate our faith; no matter what may happen to us, we must fix our hearts and eyes on JESUS the Author of the Truth, the very tenets of such truth are indeed immutable and resolute.
If we become martyrs for Christ (as countless saints the world over have already, their blood shed and drunk by the whore of Babylon; REV 17 & 18), it’s with the understanding that we are in a world under the dominion of Satan, with his own servants in control.
These are the wolves in contrast with us who are the sheep of the Good Shepherd. Sheep get attacked and eaten, it’s a simple albeit tragic truth. But no sheep will ever see a wolf, except by the Sovereign LORD’s permission; remember Job (Chapters 1 and 2)! And if we endure more persecution rather than less, it's GOD's intent to grant us a "better resurrection"!
Yet we are promised by the LORD of GLORY – Who was not exempt from such treatment, but rather knew the greatest depths of torture and unimaginable agony physically and spiritually than any other in the world – of grace that surpasses our need.
The physical torment was the least of it and that says a lot about the hellish impact of the spiritual anguish, because crucifixion is well documented, and superficially understood for its nightmarish pain of excruciating proportions. Yet that didn’t come close to the suffering He endured for our sins!
None of us will ever know of such things; and while the Father left His Son alone as He bore our sins on the cross (MATT 27:46), we ourselves are promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us (HEB 13:5)!!
In our darkest hour, should we saints here in America ever experience what the church the world over experienced through most of her history (and still is!), we must understand, we will not suffer such persecution alone! The grace of GOD will bear us up and enable us – for the glory of GOD – to endure anything that the enemy can throw at us!
Anyone who’s ever read FOXE’S BOOK of MARTYRS has witnessed this in its pages for themselves.
REVELATION 19:7-9
7 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. 8 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. 9 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.
The Greek word for “joy” can mean “quiet gladness” – and in the glories of heaven, such peaceful, serene, quiet gladness will flow with the constancy of the river that flows from the throne of GOD (REV 22:1).
Words cannot possibly convey even the most superficial of joys and ecstasies that we saints will experience, but in our fervent desire to be there, it can certainly be an encouraging exercise to try! In one sense Heaven will be in the ability of the saints to extol and honor and worship the LAMB for all that He is worthy to receive!
I don’t doubt it in the least that to accomplish this, we will need a new heavenly language that the LORD will provide us with.
The marriage of the LAMB – think about what marriage is: the union of man and woman in the holy bond of matrimony accompanied by vows from both partners, declared in truth and with the intent of abiding by them forever, and then to engage in the most intimate relationship that we human beings can enjoy.
The Marriage to the LAMB is no different; it’s just that the decimal point has been moved over by several digits! The LORD has made His covenant promise to us, His beloved (MATT 26:28) and we have made our vow to the LORD by believing in His Name and confessing Him as LORD (EPH 1:13; ROM 10:9-10; JOHN 3:18).
Our binding covenant goes far beyond any earthly marriage which lasts “until death do us part”. Our heavenly marriage is eternal and unending!!
Earthly marriage enjoys intimate fellowship in the sharing of the partners minds, hearts and bodies. The Eternal marriage will be far more intimate, of which the earthly sort is a mere glimpse (EPH 5:25-32). The Eternal union is spiritual (1 COR 6:17), the earthly union is physical (MATT 19:5).
Just as the wife bears the name of her husband, so too will we bear the Name of the LORD upon us forever (REV 3:12); likewise the wife may employ the authority of her husband at his consent, so too will we the church employ the authority of our LORD Jesus Christ (JOHN 14:13) even as we do now, but then to a far more profound degree.
I sometimes wonder, in the glorified state of the church, if this authority will extend as far as a divinely granted creative ability? Will we, with nothing more than a thought or spoken word be able to create wondrous works of art, perhaps sculpted in light (and perhaps even employ a new 8th primary color) or astonishing pieces of music (with the implementation of a new 8th note in the scale) to the glory of GOD?
Or perhaps in the assisting of families that survive the tribulation and because of their faith in Christ, are blessed with a life in the Millennial period; could we with the raw materials of trees and stone be able to construct homes for these beloved with a wave of our hands?
Fanciful thinking to be sure, pure conjecture on my part without a mention in Scripture to attest to such notions, I know. But as I’ve said before: There is a reason why much about heaven (and the abilities of the glorified church) aren’t mentioned in Scripture: It’s because Dad loves to surprise His kids!!
We are arrayed in fine linen, clean and white – the righteousness of the saints, which is “granted” by grace (EPH 1:7; 2:8-9; TITUS 2:11) and not earned. Garments are often a picture used to display a person’s spiritual condition (ISAIAH 61:10; ZECH 3:3). Since we are talking about eternal things, these garments can’t be made of the stuff that this world provides, so one must wonder.
I hardly think though, that we’ll need an entire wardrobe, because we’ll not find anything as beautiful as these garments! Or a need to change out of clothes because they become worn or soiled. Some have even suggested that these garments could be sewn out of pure light! Who knows? We will, one blessed Day!
To say that they are “blessed” who are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is the incontestable understatement of all time! Super-mega-blessed to the Nth degree can’t even come close!
What astonishes me is the idea that the One Who will be serving all of us at this wedding feast is the LORD Jesus Christ Himself (LUKE 12:37) and singing over us too (ZECH 3:17)! The KING of Kings, and LORD of Lords?! If I didn’t know better, I would say that the bride would rise up in one accord and plead with Him, to let US serve HIM! Yet it was the LORD Himself that officiated the Last Supper – even going so far as to wash His disciples feet! I think it would suit our precious LORD’s nature in His desire to serve His bride in this way!
PART TWO
From Chuck Missler’s study on REVELATION 19, a few more points on The Marriage Fulfilled:
Covenant established: 1 COR 11:25; the purchase price: 1 COR 6:19-20; bride set apart: EPH 5:25-27; 1 COR 1:2; 6:11; HEB 10:10; 13:12; reminded of the covenant: 1 COR 11:25-26; bridegroom left for the Father’s house; escort to accompany Him upon His return to gather His Bride: 1 THESS 4:16-17.
For more about this, check out the site JESUS WALK and their article LORD’s SUPPER – Meditations for Disciples by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson.
Also find more blessed encouragement about the LAMB’s Wedding Feast at ISRAEL MY GLORY’s article, The Marriage And Marriage Supper Of The Lamb.
REVELATION 19:10
10 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.
Put yourself in John’s place; if you had seen all the things that he has seen, you’d be overwhelmed too, and I think that’s why he prostrated himself before this angel. The angel was quick to rebuke the beloved one and redirect him to the LORD (I can’t blame him; another angel craved worship and that landed him in a LOT of trouble!). We are all servants of the LORD – and have no desire to be admired, much less worshiped! Yet we do seek always to please our Father in heaven, amen?
The angel goes on to declare that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”.
The testimony contained in the “volume of the book” (PSALM 40:7) which is all about JESUS (JOHN 5:39) contains the entire plan of GOD throughout the ages that revolves around His Son, the Redeemer Messiah and Head of the church. Jesus is the veritable HEART of the BOOK!
The Jews look at prophecy as pattern (various prophecies follow particular patterns that repeat throughout Scripture); Christians most often look at prophecy as predictive (that these reveal the future events, which is called eschatology).
Yet if we examine the content of all Messianic prophecies, we see that they reveal a plan, The Plan of the Ages – where GOD Himself would come in the flesh through the nation of Israel, and the tribe of Judah, and the House of David – and that this would be foretold hundreds if not thousands of years in advance. Likewise His forerunner would be foretold, and the nativity of the Messiah, His flight into Egypt, His upbringing, the various aspects of His ministry, and His ultimate ministry, His sacrificial atonement for the sins of the world! His resurrection, ascension, His return to the nation of Israel and the inauguration of His Kingdom on Earth all spelled out in GOD’s Plan in the pages of Scripture!
REVELATION 19:11-13
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
It’s called the “Battle of Armageddon” but there really IS no battle, no REAL conflict, no struggle WHATSOEVER; it’s the most anti-climatic confrontation ever! The LORD Jesus wipes the enemy out with the “brightness of His coming” (2 THESS 2:8) and the Word He speaks (the ‘sword of His mouth’)!
The last time we saw the heavens opened was when John was invited up to behold these visions (REV 4:1); and the time before that was at our LORD’s baptism (MATT 3:16).
PSALM 2 indicates that His enemies are prepared to meet Him in battle, and GOD from His throne chuckles with amusement at the ludicrous scene below; yet He has promised to return (REV 12:12; MATT 24:29-30; 26:64; ACTS 1:11; 2 THESS 1:7-10) and as we know, GOD ALWAYS fulfills His promises!
This arrival is in keeping with the prophetic utterance written in ISAIAH 61:2b; the LORD read from this passage in LUKE 4, but left off in the middle of ISAIAH 61:2 (see LUKE 4:18) because what was written there was not for that time – but here in REVELATION 19, that time has come! HALLELUJAH!
ISAIAH 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2a To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, b and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
The LORD Jesus Christ is fulfilling His role as both the Kinsman Redeemer, in the saving of His people Israel from their sins 2,000 years ago and saving them at this time from the anti-Christ as the Avenger of Blood, taking vengeance on those who persecuted and slaughtered His countrymen of Israel!
When He entered Jerusalem the first time, it was on a colt, because that was the typical animal a king would ride on when he came in peace. Horses were reserved for war time. Enough said.
He is called “Faithful and True” – He is the embodiment of truth (JOHN 14:6), and eternal truth (PSALM 117:2) exists no where else except in GOD! He is faithful to accomplish all the promises that He has declared both Israel, the church and the world, and in the individual lives of His saints: all of these promises are as irrevocable and resolute as GOD Himself!
He Who is the Creator and ‘Landlord’ of this world has returned at this point and those who hated the Holy One will be brought before Him and He alone will slaughter these rebels in righteous judgment!
Most people want GOD to be a GOD of love only, and never a Judge and certainly not a Destroyer, but they ignore the truth of GOD’s sense of righteousness, and truth and justice and that He must – to stay true to His nature – mete out judgment upon all lawlessness.
He bears many crowns because He is KING many times over and in various capacities. To elaborate on this, please take a few minutes and watch this video (if you haven’t seen it already – I bet you have!) by Dr. S.M. Lockridge:
There is a Name, a secret Name, that the LORD will have, which will be revealed at the time appointed, when He lets the Bride in on it. In Hebrew culture, to know a person’s name is to know them; names were most often indicative of the person’s nature. So this secret name will certainly be in keeping with the nature of our LORD; therefore it will be the most remarkable, beautiful and admirable name one could have!
He is wearing a garment that is so drenched in blood, it appears as though it was actually dipped in blood, saturated in blood. Isaiah provides some insights:
ISAIAH 63:1-7
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart [ISAIAH 61:2], and the year of my redeemed is come. 5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. 7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.
He is called “The WORD of GOD” and this Sword of the Spirit (EPH 6:17) proceeds out of His mouth (ISAIAH 1:20; REV 1:16; 2:16; 19:21) and wreaks havoc among the hellish rebels that have the audacity to challenge the authority of GOD Almighty!
This is the same WORD of GOD that hung on the Cross, and could have at that time, spoken but a single word, and demolished the world and delivered Himself. Such powerful and Divine restraint is the epitome of self-control, forged out of His passionate and compassionate love for us!
In this text we are examining, He exhibits no restraint whatsoever:
This is the same WORD of GOD that hung on the Cross, and could have at that time, spoken but a single word, and demolished the world and delivered Himself. Such powerful and Divine restraint is the epitome of self-control, forged out of His passionate and compassionate love for us!
In this text we are examining, He exhibits no restraint whatsoever:
“I will tread them in mine anger and trample them in my fury… the day of vengeance is in mine heart… my fury, it upheld me. 6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.”
REVELATION 19:14
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
He leaves heaven to come to the earth for the last battle... He warned them of this while under oath before the high priest (MATT 26:64). At Pentecost, Peter also referred to this day (ACTS 2:19, 20).
REVELATION 19:15-16
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
This is what the nation of Israel wanted from their Messiah when the LORD Jesus came the first time around: to deliver them from the oppression of the Roman Empire. Yet, as we know, His mission at His First Coming was far, far more important: He was intent not on delivering Israel from political oppression, but from the oppression of sin, iniquity and judgment!
At His Second Coming, He will save the nation from being decimated by the One World Leader’s armies; He will turn the tables on these militant forces and utterly ruin them instead! We have no conception of what GOD’s fierceness and wrath will look like – but we will, and when we behold it, we will be all the more grateful that we are saved!
We see Him with this Sword, the power of His spoken word, but He will also bear the rod of iron, which indicates an absolute reign of absolute justice:
ISAIAH 11:3-5
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. (See also PSALM 2:9; REV 2:27; 12:5; note that in REV 2:27, the LORD gives His promise to the overcomer that they will be granted ruling authority along with Him!).
During the Millennial Reign of Christ, the saints will be supremely blessed and joyous; for generations that will be born and live for these 1000 years, many of them will not be so blessed and joyous, for in their sin nature, they will rebel against the LORD. Thus the need for the rod of iron, wielded by the LORD and His bride! In a sense, the church will be the LORD’s deputies, enforcing the Kingdom Laws; consider that the Sermon on the Mount, as contained in Matthew's Gospel account, is likewise a codified treatise by the King Himself on how His Kingdom will be managed!
He is indeed the KING of Kings – or if you will, an Eternal Emperor who reigns over multiple kingdoms (in the LORD’s case, ALL of them on the Earth!).
So, what we have seen thus far is the LORD’s people praising Him for judging the Whore of Babylon, the bride of Christ experiencing her marriage feast with her Beloved, then the Second Coming of the LORD to rescue Israel and slaughter her enemies.
We proceed from that feast to another of an altogether different kind!
REVELATION 19:17-18
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
As I am one who takes the Bible literally, when I read about “an angel standing in the sun”, I believe that it’s an angel – standing in the sun! Why he is standing in the sun, I have no idea, but it presents an interesting fact: the sun at its core is about 27 million degrees Fahrenheit. Yet this angel is perfectly safe and sound, which is understandable, given that angels are spiritual beings, and he could stay in that immense inferno of hydrogen indefinitely – certainly gives a whole new meaning for ‘sun-bathing’!
Yet Satan and all his angels will one day be consigned to perdition’s flames for whom it was originally prepared (MATT 25:41; REV 20:10). It will be an eternal agony – so as intense as the heat in the sun is, what the lake of fire promises is something far greater in scope!
In any event, this angel beckons the birds of the Earth to come and dine on the slaughtered “flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.”
But this invitation occurs before the battle actually occurs! The angel’s confidence in his LORD’s victory is not at all misplaced! The list here is interesting: “mighty men” reminds me of
GENESIS 6:4
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
In DANIEL 2, it’s been suggested that the Nephilim (giants conceived between fallen angels and women) could make a return to Earth in the last days.
The ten toes in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream represents the “ten kings/kingdoms” of the last (global) empire before the LORD’s return (Who as “the stone cut without hands” brings the entire one world system down into dust), and it states something rather cryptic there:
DANIEL 2:42-43
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
This in my mind strongly suggests that those who are mingling themselves with the seed of men, must obviously be something other than humanity, ergo either animal or angelic species; I vote for angelic myself. Just as there were these “mighty men…men of renown” at the beginning, I think they’ll make an appearance at the end (they certainly were apparent in the middle, what with Israel’s history with Goliath, King Og and others).
For an intriguing article that examines this notion of the Nephilim, consider this one.
These “mighty men” are employed in this losing war against JESUS CHRIST! It also mentions “free and bond, small and great” which is a ‘copy and paste’ of REV 13:16; and so those who’ve taken the mark of the Beast will be represented in this tepid conflict as well.
REVELATION 19:19-21
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Notice the thrilling anticipation of doubt and wonder as to who will win this battle between verses 19 and 20? Neither did I!
“The Coming World Leader will go forth in great fury (DAN 11:44; JOEL 2; DANIEL 11; ISAIAH 24). Prerequisite to the Second Coming: a petition by the remnant, taking refuge in the east: HOS 5:15, et al. (Re: Fruchtenbaum) ...There is not the slightest mention of any struggle... 2 THESS 2:8 (taken from Chuck Missler’s notes on REV 19)”.
The beast and the false prophet are merely apprehended with no fanfare or drama; then they are promptly dispatched to Gehenna – the lake of fire; the remaining military forces were slain, with a zero head count of survivors. And the fowls will feast.
The time of evil, with the exception of a brief, well-nigh inconsequential uprising by Satan at the end of the Millennium, has drawn to a conclusive close!
Next time, REVELATION 20 and a treatment on the Millennial Reign of Christ!
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