25: Heavenly Praise and Christ’s Victory (Rev 19:1-21)

The Basics

Setting

God had sent a sudden destruction on Babylon, which was full of fornications, blasphemy, luxuries, and boasting. At the fall of the great city of Babylon, the kings and merchants of the earth were left desolate. Then John heard voices of a great multitude in heaven praising God for His judgment and rejoicing over the marriage of the Lamb. Heaven also opened, and Christ with His armies went out to conquer the beast, the false prophet, and all their followers.

Key Verse

“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! 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’” (19:6,7).

Did You Know…?

1.         Marriage supper (19:9): “The wedding supper began toward evening on the wedding day, lasted for many days, and was a time of great jubilation.” 9/572 “The imagery of a wedding to express the intimate relationship between God and his people has its roots in the prophetic literature of the OT (e.g., Isa 54:5-7; Hos 2:19). cf. The NT usage (Mt 22:2-14; Eph 5:32).” 13/1945

Observation

Outline

(19:1-10)

(1-4)

(5-10)

(19:11-21)

(11-16)

(17-21)

Key Words/Phrases

Segment Analysis

19:1-10

1.         Contrast the scene on earth in chapter 18 and the scene in heaven in chapter 19.

2a.       What is the most frequent refrain in the hymns of praise? What does it mean?

2b.       What are the themes of the hymn?

3a.       According to the passage, who should praise God? Why should these people praise the Lord?

3b.       Is your life filled with praise and thanksgiving?

4a.       What does the marriage of the Lamb represent? Who is the wife of the Lamb?

4b.       How has the wife of the Lamb made herself ready?

4c.       Why is this marriage an occasion for gladness and rejoicing?

4d.       Who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb?

5.         Who is the “he” in verse 9?

6.         Compare the harlot of chapters 17 and 18 with the wife of the Lamb.

7.         What does it mean that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy?

19:11-21

8.         Observe and record the descriptions of the rider on the white horse.

9.         How do we know that this rider is the Lord Jesus Christ?

10.       Explain this description of Christ: “He had a name written that no one knew except Himself” (12).

11.       How will the Lord subdue the nations?

12.       What is the treading of winepress symbolic of? (cf 14:19-20).

13.       Compare the supper in 17-18 with the marriage supper of the Lamb (cf. Jer 25:32,33; Ezek 39:17-20; Zeph 1:15-18; Ps 110:5,6).

14a.     Record the earlier references in Revelation to the war described here in verse 19.

14b.     What happened to the beast, the false prophets, and the kings of the earth and their armies?

14c.     Is there any description of intense struggle in this battle? What might this mean?

15.       How can your study of Christ’s victory here help you be a victor in your life of faith?