Revelation 12:7 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels," "War in heaven": The tumultuous events on earth during the Tribulation find their counterpart in heaven. Christianity tells you that your righteousness is as filthy rags. "And if any one was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire." These were simply the characters of provisional judgment that filled the interval after the church was gone, and before the reign with Christ. It is altogether foreign to history. the church. Wars were matters of ambition and tyranny and oppression rather than of justice. They are joined by the twenty-four elders (Revelation 4). Finally they will destroy her. In that place the sword seems to be an emblem of his words or doctrines, as penetrating the hearts of people; here it is the emblem of a work of destruction worked on his foes. It is one of those cases which every now and then appear where God checks and reproves our foolish curiosity, as He alone knows how to do perfectly. 4:6). the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.". In short, it is not tropical language, as when it is said of the prodigal son "This my son was dead, and is alive again;" or of the restoration of Israel, which is compared to a resurrection from the dead for the rest of the world. When John here called the warrior Christ "The Word of God", he means that here in action is all the power of God's word; everything that God has said, and threatened, and promised is embodied in Christ. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 19:1-4. Yet to this heavenly city, after Christ comes, the kings of the earth bring their offerings and their homage; but there is no excitement of the nations, no filthiness of fornication, no abominations, no blood-guiltiness. All who have looked back on the history know, that when the ten kings appeared, there was no beast or imperial power. great affection and vehemence of spirit, which will be raised hereby. And to her [that is the bride of Christ, the church] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints ( Revelation 19:8 ). First, then, this is the praise of the prophets and the martyrs who have witnessed for God with their voices and with their lives. (ii) A Greek came into the Church from a world of thought which made angel worship a real danger. A Verse by Verse Study of the Book of Revelation - Glenn Earle Cummings 2007-02 The Gospels, Acts, Epistles and Book of Revelation: Commonly Called the New Testament. Thus the divine testimony is not confined to the gospel or the church, but the prophetic Spirit which characterizes the Revelation as a whole, after the church is translated, is equally a testimony of Jesus. Let others speculate, if they will: I am persuaded that he who essays to conceive the details is merely striving to draw a bow beyond the power of man. These twenty-four elders, I believe, as I said before, are two groups of twelve, And there is probably an area right in the center of the earth that is hollow and because of the rotation of the earth and gravitation and all you would be constantly falling. It is all centered around Him. After the destruction of Babylon at But He "treadeth the winepress of the fury of the wrath of the Almighty God" another character of judgment never attributed to the saints, that I know of. After the destruction of Babylon religious and commercial, chapter seventeen and eighteen. Jesus found Himself at opposition with the religious forces of His day and it was the religious people who prompted the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. On the head of the victor Christ there are many crowns to show that he is lord of all the kingdoms of the earth. I believe the word "Lamb" is used here, The white horse is the symbol of the conqueror, because it was on a white horse that a Roman general rode when he celebrated a triumph. From the manner in which resurrection is referred to in scripture, does not God leave room for this? "Let him that heareth," then, be encouraged to "say, Come." Then again the character of it, as derived from Christianity having already taken its place, is asserted. In the Revelation two kinds of people are specially called the servants of God; the prophets ( Revelation 10:7; Revelation 11:18; Revelation 22:6), and the martyrs ( Revelation 7:3; Revelation 19:2). The fallen angels are not called, and the holy angels never need to be they are kept. there is a son in the family, who, instead of being admonished by his father's wickedness, takes license from it to indulge the same. Now that time had come. There is therefore much to be said for the ]Protestant application of the chapter as compared with the Praetorist theory of pagan Rome. There was a Jewish belief that no man could know the name of God until he had entered into the life of heaven. There are many who are not so; but the Lord does not forget them. In short, it is as we saw in Revelation 17:1-18, after Babylon had been brought before us in the course of the prophecy. It was, as H. B. Swete puts it, like "the din of a vast concourse, the roar of a cataract, the roll of thunder.". Old Testament prophecy and New Testament preaching is the gospel of the Lord Verse by Verse Ministry International is a non-profit, non-denominational, unaffiliated Christian ministry that is dedicated to promoting the preaching and teaching of God's Word clearly and boldly. and so forth. 5. Praise in heaven. Antichrist and his henchmen are cast into the lake of fire; and all their supporters are slain, to await in Sheol the final judgment. Of course the application to the Roman empire would be immediately in the mind of any Christian at Rome. Most other commentators have seen it as the first event after the seventh bowl judgment. "Let him that heareth say, Come." called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. He has many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. "Hallelujah!" And the coming of the Lord is urged in connection with it. For that which comes distinctly before us in this one verse is the twofold fact, that the ten horns here contemplated receive their kingly power for the same hour or time as the beast, and not subsequently, when his rule was extinguished. Other Books of the Bible Rev. Link with Johns vision of Revelation 19:11-16 a meditation on the Hymn "Crown Him with many crowns" and also the stirring Hymn "Onward Christian soldiers." At the same time you will mark that these are not said to be executors of judgment as Christ is. 4-18). I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright the morning star. hromphaia) symbolized (cf. This passage calls God by a certain name; and says that he has entered into his kingdom. If only an imperial city, what has this to do with mystery? The Complutensian edition, and all the Oriental versions, with the Vulture Latin, read, "a sharp twoedged sword". III. Then He is called the "True and faithful witness" in the third chapter of Revelation. [Note: Thomas, Revelation 8-22, p. 381, 567-85.] And after these things After this affecting representation of the certain destruction of Babylon, as the seat of the antichristian kingdom; I heard a great voice of much people in heaven A great chorus, who, with united voices, began to praise God on the occasion, saying, Alleluia That is, Praise ye Jehovah, or, He that is, and was, and is to come; a title which . (i) It can mean the witness which the Christian bears to Jesus Christ. THE TE DEUM OF THE REDEEMED ( Revelation 19:6-8 ). Betrothal (often when the couple were children); (2) It is an evident contrast with the state supposed in the wheat-and-tare field of Christendom which is found at the end of the age. Jesus speaks of many coming from the east and the west and sitting down with the patriarchs in the kingdom of heaven ( Matthew 8:11). That is letting religion enter in. They begin to worship, in a sense, the instrument that God has used. His instructions are to praise God. But the graphic account does not end until the Spirit of God shows us another view of Babylon altogether. "Whoever comes to me I will in no wise cast out" ( John 6:37 ). Beyond controversy, however, it is a most unusual and abnormal reappearance, which is altogether exceptional in the history of the world. "The Lord God is the temple of it, and the Lamb as far as we can speak of any. *It is the aorist in Greek, which in such a case as this it is difficult correctly to represent in English; for neither "reigned" nor "hath reigned" could convey that God had entered on His kingdom, but rather that it was past. would be no salvation. However, Satan is not yet destroyed. The very name indeed shows something similar; not of course that the church can ever be earthly. That is something that God will never have to do, apologize. It was the barbarians who brought in the prevalent ideas of liberty as well as feudalism, and accordingly it is they that have firmly stood for freedom; so that all the efforts to reconstitute the empire which have been tried over and over again have hitherto issued in total failure. There were two particular effects of her evil: the one, illicit commerce with the kings of the earth; the other, intoxicating the inhabitants of the earth with the wine of her fornication. Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 4. again. We can easily understand that the overthrow of the ecclesiastical power is necessary to leave a full field unimpeded for the imperial power to develop itself in its final form of violence and rebellion and apostacy against the Lord. And on his robe, and on his thigh, he has a name written--King of kings and Lord of lords. As long as Rome was pagan, there was neither the full bearing of the seven heads, nor did so much as one of the ten horns exist. When you couple that with "Lord", which means Their doom was awful, but by no means after the same sort as their two leaders. They feel Revelation relates to the battle between God and evil and between the church and the world at all times in church history. persecution are made the beasts provoking sins. (b) He is true. This chapter explains how it was that Babylon was so offensive to God, and wherefore He judged her thus sternly. Gates of hell can never Gainst that Church prevail. to heaven. . But a grave consideration soon disposes of both views by the relation to the beast, and more particularly by what will be shown a little farther on. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. It is actually the first phrase in Psalms 106:1-48; Psalms 111:1-10; Psalms 112:1-10; Psalms 113:1-9; Psalms 117:1-2; Psalms 135:1-21; Psalms 146:1-10; Psalms 147:1-20; Psalms 148:1-14; Psalms 149:1-9; Psalms 150:1-6. "And fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them. For instance, when Ptolemy entered Antioch he wore two crowns or diadems--one to show that he was lord of Asia and one to show that he was lord of Egypt ( 1Ma_11:13 ). That is worship of God in unprescribed ways. This is most important, because it might be (as it has been) forgotten by some who make the gospel and the corresponding presence of the Spirit to be the same at all times; as others have thought, because Revelation 4:1-11 and sequel treat of Jew and Gentile, and the state of the world under God's judgments, that this cannot be a testimony of Jesus at all. First, he is remembering Psalms 97:1: "The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice." instead of one of the other names of Jesus, to show that we have been cleansed John's age knew all about the perversion of justice; no one could expect justice from a capricious heathen tyrant. Christ is described by two words. article . In our day men prophecy "the end of Christs church", but Christs Word is mightier than any word that men can utter. I have already touched on the double force of the symbol mountains. In my opinion it is not absolutely so. Even the proclamation of the grace of God is powerless save it be brought home by the quickening energy of His own Spirit. God loves you and receives you just as you are on the basis of His grace, love and mercy. Scripture and facts refute all such theories. and ever.". "I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God" (alluding to this very city) "[is] with men." and others give , "of her." What is the sword? . The word of God, said Jeremiah, is like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces ( Jeremiah 23:29). Oh, the power of the word of Jesus, the sword that goes forth out of His mouth. He was a divine person, whatever new position He assumes for the world. He sees the glorious creation of God and he worships the creation, rather than the creator.And so John is making the same mistake and the angel corrects him and says don't do that. Paul, the apostle said as he was recounting to the Philippians his past credits as a Jew, "Hebrew of the Hebrews, circumcised the seventh day, the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee, concerning zeal persecuting the church", but he said, "Those things that were gain to me", those credits that I had, those brownie points, "I counted loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, for whom I suffer the loss of all things and count them but refuse that I may know Him and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which was of the Law", circumcised seventh, eighth day and so forth, not having that righteousness which was of the law, "but now having the righteousness which was of Christ through faith" ( Philippians 3:5-9 ). Babylon must hear, I do not doubt, the final testimony of God the gospel of the kingdom that is to go forth in the last days; but she loves her pleasure and power, and refuses truth. var _gaq = _gaq || []; He spoke these things into existence; the power of the Word of God.If we would only realize the power of the Word of God. It is a time of strong delusion, be it remembered. Verse 19 Revelation 19:19 Study . There is, however, a great deal more than this on the subject, and given with great precision in scripture, because this is merely the principle of sin in one or other form from the beginning. The living creatures are, from Revelation 5:1-14 coupled with the elders, as we find them in the beginning of Revelation 19:1-21. The weapons of this warfare are described in Ephesians 6:12. God in His providence did sanction the great empires of old; and the principle continues as long as the church is here below. And thus it was but a little glimpse they had of prophecy. all there is about us already. willing to be his in the day of his power. Man gets hung up and he stops short. The marriage of the Lamb: The wife or bride of Christ is the church (Matt. ages, which becomes clear in the remainder of the book. If you'd like to financially support VBVMI, please do so here. How did He create it? avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.". I say "righteousnesses," not "righteousness." approving of the destruction of Babel, because the Messiah was bringing justice It is necessary that we should all bear in mind, if we have not observed it before, thatRevelation 17:1-18; Revelation 17:1-18 does not pursue the chronological course of the prophecy. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." The bride represents those that are spoken of in the normal possession and enjoyment of their privileges. 252-53. The heavenly praise continues, this time for a call for gladness, rejoicing and "I will betroth you to me for ever," Hosea hears God say, "I will betroth you to me in righteousness" ( Hosea 2:19-20). are no other than God's covenant people, who are given to Christ, and made "And no curse shall be any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him." Pilate said, "I find no fault in Him. Verse By Verse Acts Through Revelation can be taken as capably as picked to act. 19:6-8 And I heard a voice which sounded like the voice of a vast multitude, and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty crashes of thunder. The "word" that comes from Gods mouth is to be used to conquor! When Jews came over into Christianity, sometimes they brought this special reverence for the angels with them, forgetting that with the coming of Jesus no other intermediary between God and man can be necessary. and the fullness of the Gentiles will be brought in. Here, on the other hand, is something which is valid for all time. the wilderness, the High Priest wore a very ornamented robe with a breastplate And if you try to worship God in an unprescribed way, setting up little idols or whatever, which God has forbidden, that is spiritual fornication. number. I find no fault in Him" ( Luke 23:14 ). The particulars are reserved for a later point in this prophecy. Here is seen the holy city coming down out of heaven from God, which is declared to be the bride, the Lamb's wife, in the plainest contrast with the great harlot. Amen 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 Commentary. No one can soberly deny that Babylon in some sort had a place then; but that the special, and above all, the full character of Babylon was manifested as here portrayed is another matter. The guests also will include tribulation saints The It is hard to see how Roman city, or anything civil connected with it, could be called "mystery." By and by, after our translation to heaven, He will work, and as vitally in those who bow to God, when it will be the reception of the prophetic testimony which is here owned to be none the less the testimony of Jesus. But we as properly say, "Come." And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as a voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ( Revelation 19:6 ). And I fell at His feet to worship him. He wrote several tracts and was instrumental in leading several Muslims from their religion to a real relationship with God in Jesus Christ. Even man himself when he was innocent in Eden was not called. But "nations of them which are saved," is a most anomalous expression, and betrays man as the author of it. What was easier than to turn the demons into angels and to worship them? When we come to the full application of the prophecy, we must look onward to the latter day. But, in point of fact, in giving the description of Babylon, the Holy Ghost enters even more into an account of her relations with the beast, the imperial power of which we saw not a little last night. The eternal smoke Thus the second beast is no longer seen as an earthly power, but as a prophet-of course a false prophet. only place in the Bible where the word "omnipotent" occurs. (i) He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, not his own but that of his enemies. "I Jesus sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. "Your Maker is your husband; the Lord of hosts is his name," says Isaiah ( Isaiah 54:5). With this agrees His coming out of heaven in judgment of the earth, described inRevelation 19:1-21; Revelation 19:1-21. 8:38, Paul often used some of the most extreme things such as life and death to make a point. He came to the world, and avenged His people on the beast and the false prophet with the kings and their armies; and after that the risen saints reign with Him over it a thousand years. ", 2. His attributes: he is faithful and true to his covenant and promise, he is righteous in all his judicial and military proceedings, he has a penetrating insight into all the strength and stratagems of his enemies, he has a large and extensive dominion, many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. The thousand years of peace and plenty will have given occasion for an ever-growing population, spite of a world thinned by divine judgments which open that era. 11:2; Eph. Then go into each of the twenty two chapters of the Book of Revelation one by one. . His eyes were as a flame of fire ( Revelation 19:12 ). Have we not all heard of the balance of power? "I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled; and place was not found for them." The beast is the expression of the will of man setting itself up in direct antagonism to God. 5:25-32). It is certain that we ought to read (not "upon" but) "and* the beast." Then we have another glorious description. (function() { "Five are fallen, one is, the other hath not yet come." Revelation 1:16; Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 49:2). The gospel of John and the Revelation perfectly disclose both, whether in grace or in judgment. "The kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour unto it" not into but unto. Smoke rose: This is because of the fire (compare 17:16, 18; 18:8-9, 18;