Revelation 19

Chapter nineteen picks up the chronology again with worship in heaven that approximates chapter Revelation 5:11-14, the enormous multitude in chapter 7, and the seventh trumpet. A new detail is that this celebration is called “the wedding celebration of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:7) and “the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). That this “bride” must be the Church is revealed in the fact that she has already “made herself ready” before she returns with the King (Revelation 19:14). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures Israel is not called a bride but rather the unfaithful wife of Jehovah (see Ezekiel 16:32). The faithful Jewish saints (pre-Church) will be resurrected after Jesus’ return (Daniel 12:1-3, 11-13).

Beginning in Revelation 19:11, John finally saw the return of Jesus as “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16). It will be at this time that “he stomps the winepress of the furious wrath of God” that John had already foreseen in his vision (Revelation 19:15). The Word that spoke everything into existence will be the Word that will strike down his enemies.

In Revelation 19:19 John saw the battles prophesied in the sixth bowl. Rather than a long, drawn-out war, Jesus will speak death to the armies (Revelation 19:21). The Beast and False Prophet, however, will not die. Instead, they will be judged immediately and “thrown alive into the lake of fire” (Revelation 19:20).