Revelation 19:1-21

Rev 17-19 forms a complete unit of thought that describes, as a prophetic vision, the ultimate downfall of Babylon the Great – which is the ultimate, worldwide system that opposes God, his people, and his plan. This system has many iterations today (many economic systems, political structures, and religious approaches), but will all coalesce behind the Antichrist into a new and worldwide form in the end.

The final downfall of this system will occur through two primary factors, (a) the plagues described in the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments of Rev 5-16 and (b) the decisive victory of Christ at the Battle of Armageddon in Rev 19.

Rev 17-18 describes the collapse of Babylon from an earthly view, while Rev 19 describes it from a heavenly view. Rev 17 focuses on the collapse of political and religious elements, while Rev 18 focuses on the collapse of economic elements.

In a previous study, we examined Rev 17-18, so we’ll examine Rev 19 now. This chapter portrays what will occur at the end of the Tribulation, which leads to the start of the millennial kingdom – when Christ will reign on Earth for 1,000 years.

Just as the four gospels describe Christ’s first coming as a suffering lamb, so this chapter describes Christ’s second coming as a righteous judge and triumphant warrior.

Heaven celebrates God’s triumph. (Rev 19:1-10)

Have you ever wondered how the NFL gets championship tees to the winning team and their fans as soon the game ends? They print tees for both teams before the game and guard them carefully. At the end of the game, they bring out the shirts of the winning team only. They ship the shirts that say the other team won to a remote third-world country to donate to people in need under the condition that those tees never get back to the US market.

Unlike the NFL, we don’t need to brace ourselves for two possible outcomes of the ungodly economic, political, and religious systems of our world. That Christ will triumph over them, in the end, is so certain that the celebration precedes the outcome. In this way, Rev 19:1-10 reads like a championship parade before the Super Bowl, not after.

Praise for the destruction of the harlot of Babylon. (Rev 19:1-5)

As you may recall, Rev 17-18 is written in a mournful, sorrowful tone as at a funeral, but Rev 19 is written in a celebratory, triumphant tone instead as at a wedding.

After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!"

Revelation 19:1

John heard “a great multitude in heaven”but doesn’t identify them. They proclaimed loudly that though ungodly powers had clamored for prominence throughout history, culminating with the Antichrist’s ultimate power grab, such power only belonged rightfully to the one, true God whom we serve and for whom many have suffered.

This is the only time the NT uses hallelujah, which is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew word that means “praise the Lord,” which is occurs frequently in Psalms (Rev 19:1, 3, 4, 6). This special word connects this celebration to the praise of God’s OT people, indicating that at this future time God will finish what he promised his people back then.

For true and righteous are his judgments, because he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants shed by her.

Revelation 19:2

This praise focuses on two things. First, by toppling Babylon the Great, he had done the true and right thing. Second, he had removed the influence of this great harlot who had ruined God’s creation and terrorized his people.

Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!"

Revelation 19:3

The same heavenly chorus repeats their praise to the Lord a second time, but this time for the completeness and finality of God’s judgment. Their words do not necessarily refer to hell or the Lake of Fire (which is possible) but may call to our minds the imagery of a thriving city or empire that’s been leveled to the ground and reduced to an expansive field of burning, smoldering rubble. What makes this imagery especially impactful is that it portrays endless destruction. Babylon the Great will never rise from the ashes again.

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!"

Revelation 19:4

In our study of Revelation, we’ve become well acquainted with this special band of counselors around God’s throne (Rev 4:4, 6; 7:11; 11:16; 14:3), so it’s almost sad to note that this is their final appearance in the book. As before, they fall down and worship God at his throne, having carefully observed everything that he’s done from the throne from the beginning of his judgments.

Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!"

Revelation 19:5

This voice came from even closer proximity to the throne but is probably not the Father himself. So perhaps it is Christ, or one of the four angelic creatures hovering above the throne, or some other unidentified angelic being. Whoever it is, this voice expands the sphere of praise to everyone who serves and fears God, no matter what their economic, political, or social status may be.

Praise for the preparation of the bride of Christ. (Rev 19:6-10)

These verses shift focus from the prostitute of Babylon to the bride of Christ.

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!”

Revelation 19:6

This voice or sound, also a great multitude, goes unnamed as before. Yet it stands out even more because it sounded like an amphitheater of waterfalls and a cacophonous symphony of thunder. This voice also announced praise to the Lord because God is all-powerful and is about to establish his reign on Earth over the kingdoms of the world.

Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.

Revelation 19:7

This verse encourages all who hear this praise to join in with a glad, joyful, glorious celebration. The cause for this praise is due not only to the Lamb’s decisive victory over evil forces but to his approaching wedding.

• The OT describes God’s relationship to Israel as a marriage; though Israel was often unfaithful (Isa 50:1; 54:4-8; Jer 3:20; Hos 2:16-20), he would renew his commitment to her and restore their relationship in the end (Isa 54:6-8; 61:10; 62:4-5).
• The NT also describes God’s relationship to the church as a marriage (2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:25-32).

So, this celebration anticipates the culmination of God’s faithfulness to his beloved people and his never-ending, intimate communion with them.

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Revelation 19:8

This clothing refers to wedding attire and stands in stark contrast to the bold purple and scarlet clothes of the harlot Babylon who was also dressed in gaudy gold, jewels, and pearls (17:4; 18:16). These alternative clothes feature premium-grade fabric, but as “clean and bright” they represent purity and victory.[1]

John also tells us that these clothes represent the “righteous acts of the saints.” This does not mean that we receive salvation through our own performance. After all, these clothes are “granted” (or given) to us, not earned. Nevertheless, the salvation that God gives his people does result in the right kind of behavior in our lives. Our righteous behavior is the evidence of God’s righteousness given to us within through Christ.

Then he said to me, "Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

Revelation 19:9

John reiterates the special privilege of those who are invited to this intimate and exclusive marriage banquet, whether OT believers, NT saints, or Tribulation saints. John also affirms the truthfulness of everything he has said to this point, esp. from Rev 17:1 till now.

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

Revelation 19:10

Something about the angel who has given John this vision of Babylon’s collapse and Christ’s approaching victory was so impressive that he felt the need to fall down in a worshipful posture. The angel refused this kind of treatment, however, and insisted that he was no more important than any other people or angels who serve God and uphold the truth about Jesus. He insisted that John reserve such worship for God alone because all prophecy (esp. here in Revelation) should point us to worshipful adoration of Jesus (who is God) and nothing else.

The Battle of Armageddon takes place. (Rev 19:11-21)

This passage gives us John’s third vision of Christ in Revelation. He saw him on Patmos Island first (Rev 1:9-20) and then at the throne of God in heaven looking like a slaughtered Lamb (Rev 5:1-14).

The Lamb moves his army into position. (Rev 19:11-16)

This second describes Christ moving himself into position for the Battle of Armageddon.

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

Revelation 19:11

At Christ’s first triumphal entry to Jerusalem, he rode meekly on a donkey (John 12:12-15), but at his second coming, he will ride on a majestic warhorse. He is called “faithful and true,” just as he described himself to the church at Laodicea (Rev 3:14). He will come to judge the world (as a judge) and declare war on the world (as a warrior).

His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except himself.

Revelation 19:12

His fiery vision indicates the steely gaze of an army general who sees the full battlefield with perfect, penetrating precision.

The “many crowns” on his head indicate total authority over all other powers. The satanic dragon wore seven crowns, and the Antichrist beast wore ten, but Christ wears an uncountable number (Rev 12:3; 13:1).

That he carried a name that only he himself knew reminds us that though he has revealed himself to us and established a close relationship with us, we don’t know everything about him. Since he is God, there are aspects of his nature that remain unknowable.

He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.

Revelation 19:13

That his robe was “dipped in blood” likely portrays the judgment of his enemies. John has already described God’s judgment on his enemies as trampling ripened grapes that produced blood (Rev 14:10). The prophet Isaiah used similar imagery (Isa 63:2-4) and John seems to tie these concepts together in Rev 19:15 when he says, “He himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

That he is called “the Word of God” should remind us immediately of how John introduced Christ at the start of his gospel, “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1). He is the perfect and complete revelation of God himself in human form.

And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses.

Revelation 19:14

Though armies like this normally refer to angelic armies, the white clothes of the wedding participants in Rev 19:8 indicate that these armies will consist either of God’s redeemed people or both God’s redeemed people and his angelic armies combined.

Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should strike the nations. And he himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Revelation 19:15

The sword coming from his mouth emphasizes the decisive effectiveness of God’s Word. This kind of sword is a large, violent, broad sword, like the one that guarded the Garden of Eden and Tree of Life (Gen 3:24) and the one held by the captain of the God’s heavenly armies (Josh 5:13), not a thin, lance-like sword, more like a bomb than a grenade.

Not only will he “strike” the nations with his victorious word, but he will “rule them with a rod of iron.” This imagery blends the conquering Messiah prophecy, “he will break them with a rod of iron” (Psa 2:9), with the shepherd imagery of “your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psa 23:4). He will crush all semblance of opposition to his reign.

And he has on his robe and on his thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:16

Imprinted on his robe and his thigh (his uniform in that area), another name was prominently seen. This name repeats what has already been mentioned in Rev 17:14 and declares him to be the sovereign ruler over all the rulers of the Earth.

The Beast moves his army into position. (Rev 19:17-19)

Now that Christ has moved into position for battle, the Antichrist does as well.

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God.”

Revelation 19:17

The angel which John saw standing in the vicinity of the burning sun made a loud announcement that ominously predicts a total annihilation of the Antichrist’s forces. He makes his announcement to the scavenger birds of the air, inviting them to a sumptuous feast prepared by the great Creator God. This announcement parodies the previous invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

That you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.

Revelation 19:18

Rather than enjoy the rich food and wine at the exclusive, intimate Messianic banquet previously described for God’s people, these birds will enjoy a buffet of a different kind. They’ll enjoy an all-you-can-eat carrion buffet, consisting of carrion from the carcasses of once-powerful political leaders, military leaders, other social influencers, war horses, soldiers, and every other kind of person who rebelled against God and refused to believe on his Son – regardless of economic, political, or social status.

And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse and against his army.

Revelation 19:19

Once assembled at the plains of Megiddo (Rev 16:16), the Antichrist will launch a massive front against Christ and his army. He’ll be joined in battle by all other world leaders at the time and their respective armies.

The Lamb defeats the Beast. (Rev 19:20-21)

The result of this battle will be swift and decisive.

Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Revelation 19:20

John doesn’t describe the battle in any detail. Instead, he describes it in two simple movements. The first movement consists of the capture and disposal of the two leading world figures, the Antichrist and the false prophet who served as his top ambassador and communications specialist. These were not killed in battle but thrown alive into the Lake of Fire, a place of eternal torment. Satan himself will be sent soon to the same place (Rev 20:10), and so will everyone who has ever died in the history of the world but rejected God’s Lamb as their Savior and Lord (Rev 20:14-15; 21:8)

And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Revelation 19:21

True to the angel’s announcement, the rest of the Antichrist’s minions and armies will be annihilated in the battle and the birds will gorge themselves on their carcasses.

Key Takeaways

Choose the bride of Christ over the harlot of Babylon.

Our choice is a choice between two women:

• The colorful, opulent, alluring appeal of the world has a grotesque nature, a godless heart, and a terrible end. The attractive billboards, carefree music, clever ads, flashing lights, and smiling faces of our fallen world are nothing but empty promises that – like the harlot of Babylon – destroy you, body and soul, in the end.
• The bride of Christ turns to the Lamb who has already been slaughtered for our sins. We receive his righteousness as our covering, and we do what is pure and blameless in his sight. We no longer pollute ourselves with the filth of this godless world, but we devote ourselves to doing the good and righteous things he saved us to do.

Which woman has your heart today? Will you be invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb or part of the carrion feast for the birds? If you’ve not yet believed on Christ alone as God and Savior, then do so today and join the bride of Christ.

Rejoice already that Christ’s victory will come and we’re on the winning side.

No matter what happens in our world today, no matter how difficult following Christ may become, no matter how much suffering and hardship we must endure – rejoice.

As Buist Fanning points out:

“When the time comes, our King and Lord [will] not disappoint. He comes trailing heavenly glory as the one who is ‘faithful and true’ (v. 11), ‘the Word of God’ (v. 13), ‘the King of kings and Lord of lords’ (v. 16), and he proves himself worthy beyond measure of each of those titles. ‘In righteousness he judges and wages war’ (v. 11). He will assert complete sovereignty, ruling ‘with a rod of iron’ and exacting ‘the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty’ (v. 15). The ‘sharp sword’ (v. 15) of his pronouncement of judgment and victory enables him to bring swift and complete ruin on the enemies assembled against him (vv. 19–21). With irresistible power he will set aside all resistance and establish his righteous rule on earth.”^[2]

Revelation, Zondervan, 493-494

Perhaps you remember being a “team captain” as a kid at recess. The key to winning any game you were playing was to pick the most athletic kids in the group. Similarly, the key to ultimate success is to make the right choice, between Satan and Christ. Though Satan attempts to wow you in so many ways, it’s Christ who died for our sins, rose again, and will be completely victorious in the end. Choose Christ to win.

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[1] Grant R. Osborne, Revelation, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002), 674.

^[2] Buist M. Fanning, Revelation, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 493-494.