Heaven Rejoices and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
Study note
A great multitude in heaven shouts 'Alleluia!' praising God for his righteous judgment of Babylon and his avenging of the saints' blood. The twenty-four elders and living creatures join the worship. Then the marriage of the Lamb is announced: his bride has made herself ready, clothed in fine linen representing the righteous deeds of the saints. A special blessing is pronounced on those invited to the marriage supper. When John falls to worship the angel, he is told to worship God alone.
1 After this I heard what sounded like a great crowd in heaven shouting, "Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, honor, and power belong to the Lord our God!" And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
2 "His judgments are true and right. He has judged the great prostitute who poisoned the earth with her evil ways. He has made her pay for the blood of his servants that she spilled." 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.
3 They shouted again, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her destruction rises forever and ever." And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures dropped to the ground and worshiped God, who sat on the throne. They cried out, "Amen! Hallelujah!" And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
5 Then a voice from the throne called out, "Praise our God, all who serve him! Praise him, everyone who honors him, whether important or ordinary!" 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.
6 Then I heard something like the roar of an enormous crowd, like the crash of a massive waterfall, like the boom of mighty thunder, all calling out, "Hallelujah! The Lord God Almighty has taken his throne and is reigning!" 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 thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 "Let us be glad, let us celebrate, let us give him glory! The wedding day of the Lamb has finally arrived, and his bride has gotten herself ready." 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 She was given beautiful, bright, clean linen to wear. That fine linen stands for the righteous things God's people have done. 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 Then the angel told me, "Write this: How blessed are those who are invited to the Lamb's wedding feast!" And he added, "These are the true words of God." 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 I fell at the angel's feet to worship him. But he said, "Do not do that! I am a servant just like you and your brothers and sisters who tell about Jesus. Worship God! The message about Jesus is what fuels prophecy." 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 thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The Rider on the White Horse
Study note
Heaven opens to reveal Christ on a white horse, called Faithful and True, judging and making war in righteousness. His eyes are like fire, he wears many crowns, and his robe is dipped in blood. His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven follow him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword to strike the nations, and he will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of God's wrath, and on his robe is written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
11 Then I saw heaven thrown wide open. There before me was a white horse, and its rider is called Faithful and True. He judges and fights with perfect justice. 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 blazed like fire. He wore many crowns on his head. He had a name written on him that nobody knows except himself. 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 His robe was soaked in blood. His name is the Word of God. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven rode behind him on white horses, dressed in spotless white linen. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 A sharp sword extends from his mouth so he can strike down the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He stomps the winepress filled with the fierce anger of God Almighty. 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.
16 Written on his robe and on his thigh is this title: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
The Defeat of the Beast and False Prophet
Study note
An angel standing in the sun summons all the birds to the great supper of God, a grim counterpart to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The beast and the kings of the earth gather their armies against Christ, but the beast and false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire. The rest of their armies are killed by the sword from Christ's mouth, and the birds feast on their flesh, signaling the total defeat of organized rebellion against God.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He shouted to all the birds soaring across the sky, "Come! Gather for God's great feast!" 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;
18 "Come eat the flesh of kings and generals. Eat the flesh of mighty warriors, horses, and riders. Eat the flesh of all kinds of people -- free and slave, small and great." 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, both small and great.
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies. They had gathered to fight against the rider on the white horse and his army. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 The beast was captured, and so was the false prophet who had done miracles on the beast's behalf. Those miracles had tricked people into taking the beast's mark and worshiping its statue. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 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 into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 The rest were killed by the sword that came from the rider's mouth. All the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. 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.