Bible Commentaries

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
- Revelation Nineteen -

All the hosts of heaven gave God glory for judging the great whore and avenging the blood of His saints. The mighty shout from heaven was, "Hallelujah," which means praise the Lord! God was praised for His splendor, majesty, power, dominion and authority. He was likewise praised because of His condemnation and punishment of that evil harlot.

Revelation nineteen pictured the marriage of the Lamb and His bride. God's people were to celebrate and give glory to Him because the marriage of the Lamb had come at last. His bride was prepared for Him and so now was a time to celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor. His glorious bride was dressed in the righteous acts of the saints. Just, godly, and upright conduct makes a beautiful garment for one to clothe himself with. Blessed are those that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

John saw heaven opened, and Jesus, the Word of God, appeared in majesty and splendor. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood. He is called is The Word of God. He has a name inscribed, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Jesus is trustworthy, loyal and true. He wages war in righteousness. He overthrows the mighty men of the earth because of their wickedness.

The beast, the false prophet, and the kings of the earth, gather together to make war with the King of Kings and they are utterly destroyed by Him. Those that had led people astray from God were hurled alive into the fiery lake that burns with brimstone. The wicked are utterly overthrown by the almighty.

The triumphant song of angels - Revelation 19:1-4 : The rejoicing over the fall of the great harlot continued. There was a great shout as from many people in heaven that together praised the Lord for His majesty, dominion and authority. The shout was "Hallelujah." Hallelujah means praise the Lord! He was praised because salvation, glory, splendor, majesty, power, dominion and authority belong to our God! God was praised because of His judgment against the great whore that had corrupted the earth with her fornication. She had corrupted and demoralized and poisoned the earth with her lewdness and adultery.

Those in heaven rejoiced because the Almighty God had avenged the blood of His saints at that hand of the harlot. They had prayed to God for vengeance and now their prayers had been heard and answered. A great part of the rejoicing had to do with the fact that this was a forever judgment against this evil force. The smoke of her burning shall continue to ascend through the eternity. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures gave their approval to what had happened by falling prostrate and worshipping God.

The marriage supper of the Lamb - Revelation 19:5-10 : All in heaven, from the lowest saint to the highest angel are called upon to praise God. The message from this great multitude in heaven was, "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." This heavenly multitude rejoiced and shouted for joy because "the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself."

The Jewish wedding consisted of: (1) a betrothal, (2) a period where the man and woman still lived apart, but were recognized as married, and (3) the marriage feast or consummation. At the consummation of the marriage God's bride is permitted to dress in fine linen that represents the righteous deeds, and conduct of God's holy people. Those that are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb are blessed. John was instructed to write, "Blessed are those who are invited or called to the marriage supper of the Lamb."

In a moment of being overwhelmed at this awesome scene John made a tragic mistake. He fell down to worship the angel. The heavenly messenger was quick to tell him to refrain from any such. The angel identified himself as just, "another servant with you and your brethren." The angel said, "worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

The victorious Lamb of God - Revelation 19:11-18 : The focus of these verses is on the one that gave the victory over the harlot and the beasts. The Lamb of God is pictured as ridding on a white horse that is a symbol of victory. He is called Faithful and True, and He passed judgment in uprightness. His eyes blazed like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had crowns because of His authority or right to rule. He is called is The Word of God. His garment is dipped in blood.

Out of the mouth of the victorious Lamb goes forth a sharp sword with which He can smite the nations. His name is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. He is the one that conquered all the enemies of the saints.

Observe the respect shown to God and the Christ in Revelation nineteen. He is called: (1) the Lord our God, (2) the Lord God omnipotent, (3) the Lamb, (4) Faithful and True, (5) The Word of God, (6) Almighty God, (7) KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS, and (8) the great God. Our world would be much better if we would learn to hold the Almighty in the highest of esteem!

The fall of the two wicked beasts - Revelation 19:19-21 : We have waited to see the war between the Lamb and the beasts and now it is all over. The beasts were ready for the war, but they were totally unable to fight against the Lamb. The beast and the false prophet were seized and overpowered. Those lead astray by the false prophet were stamped with the number 666. Now they are all hurled alive into the fiery lake that burns and blazes with brimstone.

Revelation 19:21 describes the downfall of the Roman Empire in general. "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." God's weapon of choice for this war was the sword that issued from His mouth. He that sat on the white horse is the Christ; and His sword is His word - the unadulterated Gospel. Satan is now losing all of his support. In Revelation twenty we will observe the fall of the Satan himself.

Christians who overcome the sorrows and tribulations of life will ultimately be in the very presence of God, and shall participate in the joys of heaven forever. The blood of the Lamb and the joy awaiting the redeemed should motivate us to obey God quickly. Those who obey the gospel are washed in the precious blood of Jesus. To obey the gospel one must hear the salvation message (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Jesus as Lord and Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (1 Peter 3:21) Have you obeyed the Almighty? Obey now because tomorrow might be too late!