Unit: Revelation (Part 3)
Theme: Victory Won
Lesson Text: Revelation 19:1-14; 20:11-15
Supplemental Texts: Romans 12:9-13; Galatians 6:9-10; Ephesians 2:10
Aim: Readily engage in righteous acts because of Jesus.
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By Mark Scott
The dress code of Heaven for the wedding feast of the Lamb is good deeds. The church (bride) makes herself ready for that feast by righteous acts. John gave this interpretation of the fine linen (19:8).
Things were very noisy in Heaven following the defeat of the great prostitute. Babylon had fallen (Revelation 18) so it was time to celebrate. Chapter 19 is a victorious chapter. The word Hallelujah (which only occurs in the New Testament in this chapter and occurs four times) means “Praise the Lord.” Chapter 19 is filled with praise for God. The great multitude in heaven (6:9-12) and the twenty-four elders and four living creatures (4:1-11) all join in this praise. Feasts and wars are noisy.
The Feast (19:1-10)
The church is the bride in waiting. Technically the wedding is not consummated until the great event described in this chapter. What a feast it will be! But the food at this feast is secondary. The main thing in this feast is praise for God. The great multitude in Heaven and the twenty-four elders (representing God’s people in both testaments) and four living creatures (representing every category of creation) all join in praising God, Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb.
In this feast salvation (ultimate rescue and deliverance), glory and power are attributed to God. The reason given for this was that his judgments are true and just. God is so just that he will not tolerate evil in his universe. This was shown in his condemnation of the pagan culture of Rome (the great prostitute). God avenged the blood of the martyred saints by judging that culture (cf. 6:9-11).
This victory shout was likened to a massive waterfall and peals of thunder. God is praised from all his servants both great and small (i.e. important or not). The feast is loud and majestic. An angel told John to write a beatitude over the whole affair: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb. No wonder this scene caused John to fall down and worship. It had to be overwhelming. But John bowed his knee to an angel. The angel immediately corrected John with this admonition: Worship God. The Spirit of prophecy always directs worship toward Jesus (cf. John 16:14).
The War (19:11-14)
With Babylon out of the way, one more war needs waged. It is the war with the ancient serpent and his beasts from the sea and the earth. For the wedding feast to be totally enjoyed, all the enemies have to be gone. But the victory is so assured that it can be announced ahead of time (19:1-10). John saw Heaven standing open again (4:1), and he saw a white horse. The white horse was the first of four horsemen mentioned in chapter six. But that horse went out conquering to conquer. The rider of this horse seemed different. His name is called Faithful and True. That label is never mentioned in chapter 6. The rider of this horse wages his war by judging justly. He is described in similar ways as the vision of Christ in chapter 1 (i.e. blazing fire and many crowns). He has a unique name (maybe a reference to the special name of God, Yahweh).
If there was any question about this horse and its rider before, there is no question following verse 13. This rider’s robe is dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. Any questions? This is Jesus. His army that follows him also rides white horses (symbolic of purity and victory) and their garments are symbolic of their good deeds.
The Books (20:11-15)
Jesus and his army gained the victory in this war. Revelation 19:15-21 announced that Satan’s beast from the sea and the false prophet from the earth were both defeated along with their followers. Not only that, but Revelation 20:1-10 announced that Satan himself was brought out from his binding, a binding that took place during the first coming of Jesus (cf. Mark 3:27; Matthew 12:28-29), and was finally and totally defeated. The way that Roman armies dealt with their enemies may be the imagery behind such activity.
Following this defeat, John saw a great white throne and God sitting on it. Now it was time for God to judge the whole world (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15). So powerful was this moment that the earth and the heavens fled. The sea, death and Hades all surrendered their dead, and then they were destroyed. Humanity was judged by their names being recorded in the book of life and the book which contained their works. Saved by grace; judged by works—that is the message at the feast.
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