Revelation chapter 19
Our last lesson we finished chapter 18 where we saw John’s vision of the destruction of the political or commercial Babylon. If you remember the spiritual or religious Babylon was destroyed in chapter 17 and this was accomplished by the beast on which she was riding turned on her and destroyed her (17:16-18).
The destruction of commercial and political Babylon was destroyed in one hour by perhaps a giant earthquake or maybe even a nuclear attack. I personally believe that it will be an act of God that will bring this city to destruction.
So, both Babylons are destroyed, and now all that is left is the vast armies that gather together to do battle with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what chapter 19:11-21 is about.
When Babylon fell, the command was given in heaven, “Rejoice over her!” (Revelation 18:20) and what we read in this section is heaven’s response to that command.
We open this chapter with a scene in heaven. The Lord Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords is about to return to the world that has and is rejecting Him. In His first coming He was beaten, spat on, whipped unmercifully with a cat-o-nine tails, a crown of thorns was forced on His head, and then He was nailed to a cross and left to die. He was considered worthy of death by an unbelieving society that seen Him as a malefactor.
He did not remain this “suffering servant” as described in Isaiah 53 forever. He is now on the throne of heaven and is our mediator and advocate with the Father. He will soon return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and sit on the Throne of David forever and forever. He will also reign as the Judge of the Universe and will execute judgment and justice to all those who rejected Him.
Verses 1 thru 6
In these six verses we see four Alleluias given by the saints in heaven.
The first two is because the Lord’s enemies and sin had been judged.
The first is in verse 1 “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation and glory, and honor, and power unto the Lord our God.”
This is the rejoicing of salvation. The Greek word for salvation is the word “soteria” and it basically means deliverance. In this context it means both deliverance or salvation of the souls that had been saved both before and during the tribulation period, and it also alludes to the deliverance of the world from the bondage of both ecclesiastical Babylon and the political Babylon.
The words “after these things” is referring back to the events of chapters 17 and 18 which is the destruction of both the religious Babylon of chapter 17 and the political Babylon of chapter 18. The rejoicing will not be because people on earth have perished or property has been destroyed. This rejoicing will occur because the Lord is about to stop the carnage both physically and spiritually of Satan and his demonic forces. No wonder there is rejoicing in heaven at the realization that never again will Satan’s religious and commercial or political systems be permitted to lead men astray. This rejoicing is the visible realization of what was announced seven chapters earlier (11:15) in connection with the seventh trumpet: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and forever.
It is also interesting to note that what the merchants, shipmasters, sailors, traders wept and wailed over in chapter 18 which was the fall of Babylon, heaven rejoices over.
Not only does this alleluia contain praise for salvation but also for the glory of God. These voices of these people in heaven have been in heaven in the presence of God and beheld His full glory. That is something that we today have to look forward to.
Then we see it also is the praise of God’s honor. He is true to His word. Not one thing in this book of Revelation or the entire bible has failed of which God has promised. It either has or will all be fulfilled. His honor is worthy of our praise.
And then we also see that praise is directed to His power. He is omnipotent. Everything that we have seen in this book including the judgments, the deliverances is owed to His power. It continues on into verse 2.
Who are these “people in heaven that is shouting with a great voice”? My guess is that according to the context of this verse it is the many martyred saints from both the tribulation period and those from the centuries of martyrdom at the hands of the great whore. It seems that these people would have much to praise the Lord our God.
Verse 2 “For true and righteous are His judgments: for He hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand.”
We also see His righteousness and that it is revealed in his judgments is praised by this halleluiah. Why? Because God has judged the great whore for her fornication with the worldly systems and her communion with the Anti-Christ; as well as for shedding the blood of the servants of God over the centuries.
We saints of today cannot really relate to the same thing that happened to them. While we may see and know about such persecutions and sympathize with them, we have not experienced what they have.
The second alleluia went up due to the eternal punishment that was due this hateful system.
Verse 3 “And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up forever and ever.”
These are the same voices as before. They are rejoicing in the Lord’s judgment of the great whore and the evil system that promoted the Anti-Christ. It should also be noticed that the only smoke that ascends forever and forever is the smoke that rises from the fire of brimstone of hell. It is the only fire that is unquenchable. These two wicked systems have not only been brought down but have been judged and sentenced to Hades for eternal punishment.
Verse 4 “And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen: Alleluia.”
This is the third alleluia. This alleluia is brought forth because God is reigning. It is shouted by the twenty-four elders as well as the four beasts. We met them in chapter 4:4-11 and 5:5-14. If you remember, the twenty-four elders were representative of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. In other words, the Old Testament saints as well as the New Testament saints.
I want to go back to the explanation given in chapter 4 of these twenty-four men dressed in white robes; “Many believe and explain that these twenty -four elders are the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. However, there is an argument against this because it is explained that the twelve heads of Israel have not received their glorified bodies as yet, and the rapture has not occurred, so these could not be the twelve sons of Jacob.” But it must be pointed out that John was seeing things that “must be hereafter,” and these things occur after the rapture, so these twenty-four elders could well be as described. The white robes, or raiment and crowns of gold indicate that these were indeed representative of the redeemed of the earth, both Jew and Gentile. These are the same twenty-four men and my explanation is the same.
The four beasts are the same as in chapter 4 and 5 and my understanding is the same. Here again is my understanding of these four beasts. “There is some misunderstanding about these four “beasts.” The usual word for beast in the New Testament is the word “therion’ and most often signifies a wild beast. The word used here in this chapter is “zoa” meaning a living creature or living creation of God. Certainly, God can create any form of life of which He chooses. These four were created it seems for one purpose; to praise Him day and night without cease. Notice the last part of verse 11 where it says that God has created all things and for His pleasure they are and were created.
This is the last time the twenty-four elders are seen in the book. The symbol changes in the next section, and the bride, the Lamb’s wife, takes their place. The elders represent the heavenly saints as a worshiping company of holy and royal priests. But when the harlot-church is off the scene, the true bride appears and the elders are never again mentioned. It is noteworthy that on this their last appearance, as upon their first appearance in chapter 4, they are seen in the attitude of worship. They adore the Lamb as Creator and as Redeemer in chapter 4, and here they adore God as moral Governor of the universe for the display of His righteous judgment.
These four living creatures are the same as seen by Isaiah in chapter.6:1-2 “In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims, each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.”
I don’t believe these beasts are symbolic only. I believe that these exist literally. Just because we have never seen anything like that does not mean they do not exist. We need to remember that in the day of Noah, the earth and its people had never seen rain fall from the sky; yet it did just as God told Noah it would.
We also need to remember that John had never seen anything like this, so he described it in the best words he had. These beasts were not a lion, calf, man or eagle. They only resembled them in some ways. They all had six wings and were full of eyes. They also had a voice that John could understand.
We don’t need to spiritualize these beasts for any more than what we read and are to know; they are or were created for the purpose of praising, thanking, glorifying God.
Here again we find these elders and beasts falling down and worshipping God. They were saying Amen, so be it. They were in complete accord with the judgment God had dealt the two Babylons. And they said Alleluia, or praise be to God, thanks be to God. Not only were they in agreement with the judgments but were praising God for them.
This third alleluia is because God is supreme.
Verses 5-6 “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
We know that God reigns supreme on the throne and that Jesus as the Lamb is seated at His right hand, but this voice is neither of theirs. Notice that it says “Praise our God, and “all ye His servants, and all that fear Him. Not praise Me, all my servants and fear Me. This voice is not identified. It may have been one of the mighty angels that has spoken with a loud voice in other places and times (chapters 5:2,12; 7:2,10; 8:13; 10:3; 12:10; 14:7,9,15,18). It seems that all of heaven’s voices unite to praise God because He is God, and because He is on the throne.
“Omnipotent” means “all powerful.” It is this theme that Handel uses in his magnificent “Hallelujah Chorus.” How we ought to praise God because He is on the throne!
Another reason that these voices in heaven which are the redeemed of the earth is rejoicing is found in verses 7-10.
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God.10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not; I am thy fellowservant, and of they brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The bride, of course, is the church (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22–33); and Jesus Christ, the Lamb, is the Bridegroom (John 3:29). At a wedding, it is customary to focus attention on the bride; but in this case, it is the Bridegroom who receives the honor! “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him.”
This wedding is patterned after the Jewish marriage customs of the Bible times. First came the arrangement. This is clearly seen in the story of Isaac and Rebekah.
We find in that story that Abraham as father and picturing God, sends his servant, pictured as the Holy Spirit to betroth a bride (the church) for his son Isaac, which is pictured as Jesus. After selecting Rebekah, which is pictured as the church or the bride, she is asked if she will go with this man (the servant or Holy Spirit; the invitation) and she says she will go (the acceptance).
Notice in this invitation, she has the free-will to accept or reject to go with him. She at no time is forced.
She is then taken by the servant, Holy Spirit, to meet her husband/groom and he goes out to meet her (the rapture). He then takes her to where he has a home prepared for her (a picture of John 14:2-3). There in his home his father prepares a grand dinner banquet for his son (Matthew 22:1-10). It was also customary for the father of the groom to pay a dowry to the family of the bride. This dowry that God paid for the bride of His Son was the blood of His Son.
After this was the second phase, or the betrothal. Today this would equate with the engagement. This phase lasted for a year or longer. It now has been 2,000 years and counting since the dowry was paid. During this time the bride was observed to display her purity. During this year the bridegroom would prepare a home for his bride, attached to his father’s house. The picture here is that of the time period of Jesus preparing a place for us (John14:1-3).
On the wedding day the groom would leave his father’s house to fetch his bride. After taking her from her home, the groom would then lead the bridal procession back to his own home. This is a beautiful picture of the rapture.
Phase three is the marriage ceremony. The bride would be beautifully adorned, like a queen, with precious jewels plaited in her hair and clothing and a long veil covering her face. In biblical times the ceremony was conducted at the home of the groom, attended by the immediate family, two witnesses, and the close friends. There the “ketubah” which was a document that included the obligations of the groom and the rights of the wife would be read. Then blessings would be read and the wedding was concluded.
The last phase would be the wedding feast. This wedding feast would include the friends of the bride and groom that were invited to rejoice at the marriage. After a week of feasting the couple would settle into their new home, which had been prepared by the groom. Today, the church is espoused, “engaged” to Jesus Christ; and we love Him even though we have not seen Him (1 Peter 1:8). One day, He will return and take His bride to heaven (John 14:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).
It is here where many get confused as to who this bride is. Many believe that it is the Jewish nation, because God was married to her. However, the distinction being made is that this wife of God was unfaithful as pictured in Hosea and his adulterous wife. This bride of Christ is pictured as virtuous and pure (2 Corinthians 11:2). For the past 2,000 years God has been preparing His church.
Notice the words in verse 7 “and the wife hath made herself ready.”
How will she, the church, be dressed? She will be arrayed in fine lined, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousnesses (plural]) of saints. This is not a reference to righteousness imputed at the time of salvation, but to Christ’s righteousness as produced in the inner life and character of believers. The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of godliness produced by the Holy Spirit. These are the good works unto which we are created in Jesus Christ Ephesians.2:10) with which the believers are to adorn themselves in order to bring honor to Christ’s name. We will appear before God clothed in whatever righteous acts remain after our works have been tested by fire at the judgment seat of Christ.
Only our righteous acts, devoid of any selfish motives would make up the wedding garments.
During our earthly pilgrimage, we are weaving the wedding garments that will adorn us at the marriage supper.
It is interesting to see the difference between the wedding gown of the Bride of Christ and what was worn by the adulterous whore in chapter 17. She was decked out in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. It is also interesting to see that The Bride being made ready contrasts with the harlot who is drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of martyrs of Jesus.
He made all the arrangements for the purchase of the bride by paying the bride price, the blood of His Son. The Lord is in the process of perfecting the church in order to present her as a “chaste virgin” to Christ. She is now undergoing a sanctification process by being washed with the water of God’s word. Complete sanctification of the church will take place at the rapture, when believers are changed and presented to Christ. This will take place at the Judgment Seat of Christ, after which a glorious church will be presented to Christ without spot, wrinkle, or blemish (Ephesians 5:27). When all the works are judged and the worthless are burned and only that which comes out of the fire of God’s holy decisions, then will the bride have pure white linen to wear.
Let’s look at verse 9 again, “And He saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
Those that are called or invited to the marriage supper of the lamb, are not the saints. The saints are the bride and have a place already at the table. This invitation is for the friends of the bride and groom. Remember what John the Baptist said in John 3:29? “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.”
We also take note of the parable that Jesus told of the king that was throwing a wedding feast for his son (Matthew 22:1-14) it was to the Jews that the parable was directed. They were invited but refused to come. It is by these illustrations that we see that the friends of the bridegroom are the O. T. saints, believers in Jesus during His time on earth, and those tribulation saints that are called and are the guests at the wedding.
The Old Testament teaches that there will be another supper at the beginning of the Millennium, associated with a second reunion of God the Father and the nation of Israel. This supper is in connection with God again taking His wife, Israel back after a long period of unfaithfulness and infidelity. This is wonderfully pictured in the book of Hosea.
In Isaiah 25:6 we find this supper pictured or prophesied; “And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.”
While this is not a marriage feast it is a gala event to show God the Father accepting again the nation of Israel. This would be in keeping with the promise made in Hosea that God would again take back his adulterous wife. Thus, the future feasts of God the Father and the marriage of the Lamb have two different brides. The wife at the marriage of God the Father is the nation of Israel: the bride at the marriage of Christ the Lamb is the church.
John fell at the feet to worship this angel but was prevented from doing it because only God is worthy of worship (verse.10).
“And I fell at his feet to worship him. and he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
This verse reads that this angel stopped John from worshipping him because this angel was a “fellow servant,” showing that there are many other angel servants, to those that are saved and have the testimony of Jesus. We are to only worship God which includes Jesus which was God incarnate. Like John himself, this angel was only a servant of God (Hebrews 1:14); and we do not worship servants.
When it says that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy it means that all prophecy testifies of Jesus.
The question before us tonight is this; We praise the Lord God and His Son Jesus for all they have done and are doing in our lives, in our churches, in our homes, and in our families, and we should. We have given testimonies to those things which the Lord has done and is doing, and we should most definitely do so. But my question tonight is this; shouldn’t we be praising Him for what He is going to do.
We sing songs of praise for all that He has done and in our prayers we thank Him for His many deeds of compassion. If all His past and present activities are righteous and holy, isn’t all that He is going to do during this time period of Great Tribulation also righteous? The martyred saints are pleading for justice, and they get it. In chapter 16:17 we find that the angel announcing that the judgments of God are true and righteous and here in chapter 19 we find the same praise in heaven from the many saints saying “for true and righteous are His judgments on the great whore.” We need to understand that these people have rejected the mercy and grace of God in Christ and really do deserve God’s righteous judgments. God is not terrible, mean or vindictive, but holy and righteous. Praise Him therefore all ye saints.
The Battle of All Ages; the Mother of All Battles
In the remainder of this chapter we wee the battle that has been in the planning since before the world began. It started in heaven when the top angel, Lucifer, rebelled against God and proclaimed that he would replace God and become God. This is written about in the both Isaiah 14:21-23 and Ezekiel 28:1-8. This battle was prophesied in Genesis 3 where we find that God pronounce judgment on the Serpent, Lucifer, Satan, the Devil.
God had said that the Serpent, or Satan, would deliver a minor blow to the heel of the seed (Jesus) of woman (Mary), This happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross and died a physical death. This would be the minor blow because Jesus would not stay dead, but be resurrected to life. But in return, Jesus would deliver a crushing, fatal blow to the head of Satan. This was done in part when God raised Jesus from the dead and He ascended into heaven victorious over sin, hell and death. Satan was convicted and sentenced but not as of yet having his sentence carried out.
However, Satan, Lucifer, the Devil was allowed to roam free to deceive as many as he could. He is now the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) and the prince and power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). At the time of this prophecy, this same personage will have indwelt the human Anti-Christ. The false prophet will also be on hand with his blasphemous praises of the Anti-Christ.
First we see the Leader of this army that comes to do battle in verses 11-13;
“And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written that no man knew, but He Himself. 13 And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called the Word of God.”
The next thing John noted after heaven was opened to his eyes was a white horse and rider. This is not the same white horse and rider that we saw in chapter 6:2. “And I saw,and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering and to conquer.”
That rider had a bow but no arrow. This rider in our chapter carries a sharp sword. The rider in chapter 6 had a crown given to him, this rider wore many crowns.
The crown the first rider wore was the “stephanos.” This crown is the victors crown, usually made of woven olive leaves. It was given at the sports events to the winners. However, the crown worn by the rider in this chapter was a “diadem” crown that showed the royalty and majesty of the King. The first rider comes at the beginning of the Tribulation period, the second rider comes to put an end to it.
The rider in chapter 6 has a large human army following him, the rider here in chapter 19 has an army from heaven with him.
The first rider is the Anti-Christ, the second rider is Jesus Christ.
How He is identified:
Verse 11 “And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”
1. He was called Faithful. This is another area that we can use to distinguish this rider from the one in chapter 6. Jesus was faithful in doing all that God the Father gave Him to do. He did not fail in one aspect. He is faithful to those that have accepted Him
2 He is called True. Jesus always spoke the truth. On the other hand, the devil is called a liar.
3. He is the righteous judge. John 5:22 tells us that God the Father has committed all judgment to God the Son. In this righteous judgment Jesus will wage the war against all iniquity.
4. Verse 12 “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns: and he had a name written that no man knew, but he himself.
His eyes were/ are as a flame of fire. His piercing judgment of sin is indicated in the words, His eyes are as a fire. Christ’s fiery eyes reveal His insight, knowledge, and anger. He will have full knowledge of each individual and their sins. His penetrating eyes indicate a gaze that flashes with intelligence, righteousness and the look of divine wrath upon the wicked. His eyes will accurately expose and exterminate all unrighteousness.
5. “And on His head were many crowns.” The scriptures do not tell us how many crowns, but what it does show us is that He will have complete and total dominion over all of creation. He is and will forever be The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
It is interesting to note that Jesus is shown as having three names:
1. His unknowable name verse 12 which shows His special relationship with the Father.
2. Word of God verse 13 which speaks of His special relationship with His bride, the church, the redeemed.
3. King of Kings and Lord of Lords verse 16 which indicates His special relationship with the world and its nations.
6. “And He had a name written that no man knew, but He himself.” This verse shows the relationship that Jesus has with the Father. This name is known only to himself and the Father. It is unknown to mortal man. Any guess would only be speculation. Perhaps this is a mystery that will be revealed when we get to heaven.
7. Verse 13 “And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called the Word of God.” The name Word of God reminds us of what this same apostle wrote in John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”
To get an accurate understanding of this vesture dipped in blood described in this verse we need to go to Isaiah.63: 1-6
“Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore, mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.”
The prophet looks ahead in 63:1–6 and sees Jesus Christ returning from the battle of Armageddon that climaxes the Day of the Lord (Revelation 19:11–21). Edom is named here as a representative of the nations that have oppressed the Jews.
Bozrah was one of its main cities, and its name means “grape gathering.” This is significant since the image here is that of the wine press (Joel 3:13; Revelation 14:17–20). The name “Edom” means “red” and was a nickname for Esau (Genesis 25:30).
The ancient wine press was a large, hollowed rock into which the grapes were put for the people to tread on them. The juice ran out a hole in the rock and was caught in vessels. As the people crushed the grapes, some of the juice would splash on their garments. Our Lord’s garments were dyed with blood as the result of the great victory over His enemies (Revelation 19:13).
When Jesus came to earth the first time, it was to inaugurate “the acceptable year of the Lord” (Isaiah 61:2; Luke 4:19). When He comes the second time, it will be to climax “the day of vengeance of our God” (Isaiah 63:4; 61:2). The enemy will be crushed like grapes.
One Commentary says this: This section ends as it began, with a description of the Lord as a conquering warrior (Isaiah 63:1–6; see 59:15b–19). He comes from Edom (which here represents the hostile nations; compare verse 6 and 34:5–17) with His garments stained with blood. He announces that He has single-handedly crushed His enemies, as if they were grapes in a winepress. One is reminded again that God’s kingdom of peace and justice will only come after a powerful and angry display of His judgment against His foes. End of quote.
We covered much of this in chapter 14:14-20 which was a fore-view of this portion of scripture. This is known as the Battle of Armageddon, and it will be fought when the Lord returns. It was pointed out in chapter 14 that there are many places in the bible that inform us of this battle;
I think it is a good idea to revisit these scriptures for the sake of those that may have not been here at that time. It will also remind us that were here this climatic day.
Joel 3:9 -16 “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the might men of war draw near; let them come up: 10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears; let the weak say, I am strong. 11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 12 Let the heathen be awakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people and strength of the children of Israel.”
Zechariah 12 :1-4 “The burden of the Word of the Lord for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4 In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
Now skip down to verses 8-9
In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is
feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be
as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Read Zechariah 14:1-13
This chapter is divided into three sections;
1. Verses 1-6 These verses identify the nations taking part in the invasion. There is much disagreement on who these modern-day nations are, but I think it important to note that to a large degree that most of if not all is Islamic.
2. Verses 7-17 is describing the invasion of Israel, and Jerusalem in particular.
3. Verses 18-23 the destruction of this vast army. Revelation 16:12-21. This event will take place at the pouring out of the vial of the sixth angel.
One more extremely important portion of scripture that has a lot of relevance on this subject.
Revelation 14:20 Verse 20 “And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.”
The Bible Knowledge Commentary says this about this verse, “While this distance may be literal and may designate the area of judgment as around the city of Jerusalem, it is of course impossible for the blood to reach a height where it would touch horses’ bridles. What this affirms is a tremendous bloodletting in which blood is spattered as high as the bridles of horses. This is a graphic picture of a great slaughter.”
This verse is a fulfillment of Isaiah.63:1-4 which we have already shown but is worth repeating; Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth I the winefat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.The Lord’s Army verses14-16
Verses 14-16 “And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.”
We do not take part in this battle. As was pointed out in Isaiah 63:1-4 He treads this wine press alone. Those returning with Him are mounted on horses but are not armed. It is his wrath that is avenged. It is His fierceness that brings destruction. The Groom fights for His bride, not the bride for her husband.
“Out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations.” This only indicates that by his spoken word shall all those gathered against Him will be consumed. He spoke the world into existence and He will use the spoken word to judge these that gathered in hatred of Him.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 tells us this “And then shall that Wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.” He will destroy Satan by the brightness of His coming, by the spirit of His mouth.
He shall smite the nations and rule them with a rod of iron. These are those that are in opposition to Him and have been deceived into going to war against Him by the Anti-Christ.
“And he hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
This is again the third name taken by Jesus. It is to show his authority over all of His creation. He will rule it with a rod of iron. He is no longer the good shepherd or the great shepherd that controls with a staff, nor the suffering servant of Isaiah 53, but the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
All of His laws will be strictly observed or severe consequences will be handed out. It will be quite an adjustment for many that demand their rights. It will also be most interesting to note that many of the things that were abhorrent to the real Christian community today will be done away with. Liquor stores, topless bars, the manufacture of pornographic material, illegal drugs, prostitution, all idolatry and witchcraft, tobacco products, etc. Adultery will once again become illegal which includes un-married couples living together. Some of us can remember when adultery was not only a sin but also illegal. All of these gay marriages will be done away with forever. No wonder that the un-saved populations gather to resist Jesus. Their life-styles that they love will come to an end.
All of this reminds me of Psalms 2 .
The world is fighting a losing battle. They can attempt to do away with God by denying His existence. They may even deny Jesus as God’s only son and His deity. They may try to even set up their own system of morality based on
political correctness, but Jesus will still be crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
“And he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” It is no wonder that God is so angry. The world has rejected Him, His Son, His word, His salvation, His church and His righteous living and replaced it with attempting
to live without their Creator, without His rule and laws.
Verses 17-18 is about the feast prepared for the fowls of the air known as the supper of the Great God.
“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and both small and great.”
It is only fitting that while we are enjoying the feast prepared for us at the wedding feast of the Lamb, the enemies of Christ are becoming the main course for the fowls of the air. This 200,000,000-man army that has gathered to do battle against
Christ will be slain in their footsteps.
I want to repeat here the words that we read in Ezekiel 14:12 and 13 “And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor.”
And now for the moment that all Christianity has long awaited; the eternal destruction of the beast (Anti-Christ) and the false prophet, and the end of all opposition to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verses 20-21 “And the beast was taken and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive not a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 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.
The “beast” mentioned here is the Anti-Christ without the embodiment of Satan. At this point Satan has left the body of the Anti-Christ. He no doubt now appears as Lucifer the angel of darkness. His fate is awaiting him also.
All of the ridicule that Christians throughout the ages have endured as the infidels have decried as “pie in the sky” will be put to silence. We have been vindicated.
The masses of the world must decide which side to place their eternal fate in; in Satan and his lying words, or in Jesus who is described as faithful and true; will they place their trust in Satan that is destined for eternal destruction in the bottomless pit; or in Jesus the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords? The real problem is that for most of these masses of people, they have not been told their choice or the consequences. That is our job, that is why we are saved, that is our duty as a servant of Jesus Christ.
How are our churches doing in this respect? How are we doing as individual Christians? Has the church left its position on the tower as watchmen to warn the people?