4. The fall of Babylon the harlot is the
overthrow of the papal system of
religion and government—yet to be
seen in the future. These chapters
feature the divergent reactions of the
ungodly to this final vindication of true
religion.
5. The rider on the white horse
represents the ongoing conquests of
Christ through His Word, or else
continuing campaign of judgment
upon other enemies.
6. Babylon is identified either with Rome or
Jerusalem
If the former, these chapters describe the
downfall of the Roman Empire and
especially of the city of Rome, the harlot.
If Babylon is Jerusalem, these visions
depict the burning of that city by the
Romans and the mixed reaction of the
wicked and the righteous.
7. Babylon may represent the Catholic
Church or some great apostate religious
entity forming under the Antichrist in the
end times.
Alternatively, Babylon may be a holy
city—either a restoration of the ancient
Babylon, or a revived Rome.
8. In any case, this great enemy of truth and
righteousness will be destroyed in the
end of the Tribulation, to the chagrin of
the wicked but the rejoicing of the
righteous.
Jesus visibly returns to earth in chapter
19, riding a white horse.
9. Babylon represents the world system
as the seducer of the godly.
Its destruction at the end of the age is
depicted in terms of its current
manifestation in John’s time: Rome.
10. The ultimate judgment upon this
harlot comes through Christ at His
Second Coming, who is the rider on
the white horse.
Alternatively, the rider may represent
Christ’s more gradual conquests over
the world system through the
preaching of the gospel.
11.
12. Revelation 14:8 introduces this section:
“And another angel followed, saying,
‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,
because she has made all nations drink of
the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’”
Chapters 17 and 18 give us the details of the
fall of Babylon.
13. Babylon is a veiled reference to Rome, in that Babylon
serves as a fitting type and Rome the antitype of any
empire that rejects the rule of the true God and which,
uses false religion to serve its purposes.
Babylon will be a world-wide political power that will
be controlled (or heavily influenced) by religious
elements until the political power no longer needs
religion for legitimacy. At that time the political power
will discard the religious elements.
Which religion? Catholicism (so say the Seventh Day
Adventists and others), Islam, or Apostate Christianity.
14. 1 Then one of the seven angels who had the
seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to
me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the
great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with
whom the kings of the earth committed
fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth
were made drunk with the wine of her
fornication."
15. This is the first reference to “the great harlot.” However,
the name Jezebel is used for a specific woman in the letter
to the church of Thyatira (2:20):
Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because
you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a
prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit
sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
Jezebel seduces the servants of the Lord to “commit sexual
immorality,” and the great harlot “committed fornication,”
with the kings of the earth and with “the inhabitants of the
earth.”
16. The great harlot represents a religion that is
hostile toward Christianity and to those who have
accepted Christ during the Tribulation Period.
The influence of the great harlot is global in its
impact and infects humanity around the world.
Harlotry is often used to depict false religion and
specifically spiritual adultery/idolatry (Isa. 1:21; Jer.
3:8; Ez. 16:15-28; Mic. 1:7).
17. The reference to waters, however, is later
explained as a reference to various “peoples,
multitudes, nations, and tongues” (v. 15). So the
reference to the “waters” is clearly symbolic and
has no geographical significance when trying to
identify the great harlot.
18. 3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the
wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet
beast which was full of names of blasphemy,
having seven heads and ten horns.
At this point the angel carried John, “in the Spirit into
the wilderness.” The wilderness in Revelation is seen
as a place of safety for the people of God, but a place
of destitution for the harlot. The woman was sitting
on the beast. This suggests a certain amount of
control on the part of the woman.
19. The beast is the beast John saw coming out of the
waters (peoples, nations, tongues). It is further
described here as being “scarlet” in color, which could
be a reference to royalty, or it could be a reference to
blood.
The beast will almost certainly claim a royal status,
and will also come to power through the blood of
martyrs and innocent lives lost in his claim to power
and his hold on power. The beast, which represents
godless government, will tolerate the harlot to the
extent that she provides some form of religious
legitimacy for the beast.
20. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet,
and adorned with gold and precious stones and
pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of
abominations and the filthiness of her
fornication.
The great harlot is described as coming in great
splendor. She is arrayed in the colors of royalty,
i.e., purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and
precious stones, and pearls.”
21. In Ezekiel 16 Jerusalem is similarly described:
11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets
upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine
ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy
raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work;
thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou
wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a
kingdom.
14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy
beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I
had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
22. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER
OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF
THE EARTH. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with the
blood of the saints and with the blood of the
martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled
with great amazement.
In the original Greek there would not have been a
comma and would read, “Mystery Babylon the Great,
the Mother of Harlots . . . .” Indicating that “Babylon”
is not to be taken literally, but is a symbolic reference
to another world power.
23. Optional views of “Mystery Babylon”
Rome or a revived Roman Empire
The Roman Catholic Church
Literal Babylon, rebuilt and revived under Islam
Jerusalem
World government in general/United States
Jerusalem
24. 7 But the angel said to me, "Why did you
marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman
and of the beast that carries her, which has the
seven heads and the ten horns.
John marveled at the sight of the woman upon the
beast, so that the angel asks him, “Why did you
marvel?” The angel then goes on to explain the
meaning of this vision.
25. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and
will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to
perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will
marvel, whose names are not written in the
Book of Life from the foundation of the world,
when they see the beast that was, and is not,
and yet is.
26. Many see here a kind of analogy for the beast. In
that the antichrist tries to mimic God—who was,
and is, and is to come—this is an attempt to
replicate God. However, if the vision were to be
carried further, the beast would be described as,
“and will be no more”—whereas God is
everlasting.
27. As empires dissolved into regional, country and
state powers it appeared that the age of the
Empire was over, but the European Union, as well
as the massive power of the United States, may
indicate that there is yet another Empire ahead
that will engulf the world with her influence and
might. But this final form of self-rule and godless
governing will be once and for all destroyed when
it rises to confront God.
28. 9 Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven
heads are seven mountains on which the
woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five
have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet
come. And when he comes, he must continue a
short time.
7 heads = 7 mountains=7 kings
7 kings=5 past kings, 1 present king, 1 future
29. Many who see Babylon as a reference to a revived
Roman empire try to use the reference to kings to
designate Roman Caesars. This becomes a
difficult task because it is impossible to decide
which Caesar to begin or end the count with.
Others see the seven kings as symbolic seven
empires in succession, with the last and seventh
yet to come. Perhaps 7 is merely symbolic of the
scope and power of the beast.
30. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself
also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going
to perdition. 12 The ten horns which you saw are
ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet,
but they receive authority for one hour as kings
with the beast.
31. The beast is in a league with ten kings that are
concurrent with his rule. These ten kings receive
power from the beast, that is, he confers to them
the authority to exercise power in the realm of
their local domains as vicars of the beast.
32. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give
their power and authority to the beast. 14 These
will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will
overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King
of kings; and those who are with Him are called,
chosen, and faithful."
33. These kings receive their authority from the beast
and they “give their power and authority to the
beast.” This is to say, they will offer military,
economic and political power to support the
beast’s regime. These kings will side with the
beast in his war with Christ, and they along with
the beast will be defeated with a fierce swiftness
that displays the power of God against all the
power of the earth.
34. 15 Then he said to me, "The waters which you
saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples,
multitudes, nations, and tongues.
The harlot represents a false religious system.
Babylon is a fitting type, for in Babylon astrology
was birthed, and sadly, this false religion continues
to exist and be practiced in the twenty-first
century.
35. In John’s day paganism was rampant throughout
the empire as local expressions of religion were
allowed as long as they incorporated the worship
of the state, personified in the goddess Roma
36. 16 And the ten horns which you saw on the
beast, these will hate the harlot, make her
desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her
with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts
to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to
give their kingdom to the beast, until the words
of God are fulfilled.
37. The other ten kings will despise the religion that
the beast used to gain power. These kings will turn
on the harlot, that is, they will turn against the
practice of all religious expression and will destroy
those who continue to practice it.
This is another example of God using one godless
system or nation to judge another. This is God’s
plan and purpose in judging the false religion that
the godless government used to further its
purposes.
38. 18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city
which reigns over the kings of the earth."
For John’s readers this great city was Rome. Yet, in
terms of eschatology we understand Rome to be a
type of the end time Empire, even as Babylon was a
type of Rome. That city, which represents a religious
expression within the Empire, has influence over
kings for a season, but in time that city will be
destroyed and a new city, a New Jerusalem will
descend.
39.
40. Many scholars see two distinct references to two
separate Babylons in chapters 17 and 18. The two
are interrelated with a fine point of distinction
between them, yet the fate of both will be
judgment from God. The first reference is to the
“Mystery Babylon” in chapter 17 verse 5 and is the
symbol of spiritual adultery or religion that refuses
to acknowledge the authority of the only Almighty
God.
41. The second Babylon is “Babylon the great,” and
this Babylon represents the commercial/political
aspects of the seat of power for the Antichrist.
The Antichrist casts aside the religious Babylon,
while God Himself casts down the
commercial/political Babylon.
This distinction between the two symbols of
Babylon is held by LaHaye, Jeremiah and Carson,
Van Impe and others.
42. 1 After these things I saw another angel coming
down from heaven, having great authority, and
the earth was illuminated with his glory.
The phrase “after these things” does not
necessarily dictate chronological order of events,
but it does communicate that another vision, or
another chapter in the overall vision of Revelation,
is unfolding.
43. This angel was so powerfully illuminated with the
glory of God that the earth itself is lit up. Easly
considers the possibility that this is the same angel
who announces the birth of Messiah to the
shepherds in the fields. While this cannot be
dogmatically asserted, it would certainly be
apropos that the same angel who announced the
birth of Christ will also announce the death of the
system that rejected Him.
44. 2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying,
"Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has
become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for
every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and
hated bird!
LaHaye says that the repetition of “fallen” indicates
that two Babylons have fallen. This is an interesting
observation, but it is much more likely that this is
simply a doublet used for grammatical emphasis. It
is also a phrase that comes from the language of
Isaiah 21:9—“Babylon has fallen, has fallen!
45. Easly notes that there are two perspectives on the
fall of Babylon in this chapter. First, there is the
perspective of heaven, which is holy and which
sees Babylon’s fall as just and reasonable, even
worthy of rejoicing over. Second, there is the
perspective of earthly sinful inhabitants of the
earth, which is selfish and results in a lament, not
for the loss of life but for their own loss of riches
and wealth.
46. 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of
the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the
earth have committed fornication with her, and
the merchants of the earth have become rich
through the abundance of her luxury."
The reason for the fall of Babylon is peppered
throughout the chapter. The first reason is given
in verse 3.
47. In addition to the political leaders, the economic
leaders of the world also sell their souls to the
Antichrist and his kingdom to further their
positions and gain economic advantage. These
are men and women who are driven by
materialism and greed. They have no moral
compass and no boundaries to prevent them from
doing whatever they can to gain more goods.
48. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying,
"Come out of her, my people, lest you share in
her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
The warning from heaven is, “Come out of her, my
people.” Who these people that are called to come
out of spiritual Babylon, this commercialism that
drives humanity to excess and sin in pursuit of the
luxuries that she offers?
49. In the futurist approach the church has been
raptured. If this is the case then there are two
possibilities: First there are those who do not take
the mark of the beast, and who become believers
during the Great Tribulation Period. Second, this is
a timeless warning to all believers of every age.
50. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God
has remembered her iniquities.
The word “for” indicates yet another reason for
Babylon’s downfall. The picture is of the sins of
Babylon being piled up until they reached God.
This is, perhaps, a reference to ancient Babel
whose people attempted to build a tower that
reached up into the heavens. Babylon has brought
judgment upon herself because she was rolling in
sin.
51. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and
repay her double according to her works; in the
cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7
In the measure that she glorified herself and
lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her
torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I
sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see
sorrow.'
52. The call is for judgment to be poured out upon her
to the extent to which she has filled her cup with
her sins. In fact, we see some indication that in
this case she will receive double judgment for her
sins. Indeed, to the extent that Babylon glorified
herself, and did not give glory to God, and lived in
luxury at the expense of morality and no doubt at
the expense of others, she will be given torment
and sorrow.
53. 8 "Therefore her plagues will come in one day--
death and mourning and famine. And she will be
utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God
who judges her.
The result of her spiritual fornication, her sins and her
pride and arrogance is that her judgment will come
swiftly. “Her plagues will come in one day.” In John’s
day it was hard to conceive of an entire city the size of
Rome being destroyed in one day by fire. But with
the advent of nuclear war this possibility is
commonplace.
54. 9 "The kings of the earth who committed
fornication and lived luxuriously with her will
weep and lament for her, when they see the
smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance
for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that
great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one
hour your judgment has come.'
55. World leaders will weep. Their source of comfort
and luxury will be gone. They weep not for the loss
of life, but for the loss of their source of wealth and
power. They repeat the fact that the destruction is
sudden and dramatic. The perspective is as though
the event has already taken place. Aune says that
this is an example of a “prophetic perfect” tense,
which describes a future event as though it has
already come.
56. 11 "And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn
over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12
merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and
pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind
of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind
of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and
marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and
frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle
and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of
men. 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from
you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have
gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all.
57. The list of goods that passed through the city is
long, and as Kistemaker notes, “God takes from
her everything she idolized.” Easly outlines this
list in “seven general categories”: Jewelry,
Clothing, Furniture, Interior decorating,
Perfumatory, Food, Animals, Slaves/Labor
58. 15 The merchants of these things, who became
rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of
her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and
saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was
clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and
adorned with gold and precious stones and
pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches came
to nothing.'
59. Again we see “the merchants . . . who became rich
by her” “weeping and wailing.” They will lament
the fact that the city which epitomized everything
they aspired to become has suddenly been
reduced to nothing. The fine clothing and all the
wealth has become nothing but smoke and ash.
60. 17b Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship,
sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood
at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw
the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like
this great city?' 19 "They threw dust on their
heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and
saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all
who had ships on the sea became rich by her
wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.'
61. There are three classes of seagoing people listed
in verse 17. First, there are the captains of ships,
their vocation depended upon the trade generated
by Babylon. Second, there are the voyagers, the
people who travel by ship, perhaps including they
who lived the life of luxury on pleasure cruises.
And finally, there were those merchants who
made their living by their trade upon the sea. All
of them will be weeping and wailing over the
plight of the city that had afforded them such
wealth and prestige.
62. 20 "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy
apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you
on her!"
In contrast to the weeping of those who had
refused to come out of spiritual Babylon, the
raptured saints of heaven, and particularly the
apostles and prophets whose blood was spilled by
the spiritual Babylon, and whose martyred voiced
cried out from under the altar are now called upon
to rejoice over the fallen city of Babylon.
63. 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a
great millstone and threw it into the sea,
saying, "Thus with violence the great city
Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be
found anymore.
The action of the angel represents the sudden,
devastating and final judgment of God upon the
world system that rejects God in favor of a selfish
pursuit of the pleasures of the world. This is the
final chapter of secular humanism and godless
commercialism. It will all comes crashing down.
64. 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and
trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore.
Godless entertainment will be silenced. It is
interesting that music is listed. The secular music
industry around the world promotes some of the
most vile and vulgar acts imaginable.
65. 22b No craftsman of any craft shall be found in
you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall
not be heard in you anymore.
Not only will the entertainment industry be
silenced, the industries of spiritual Babylon will be
silenced as well.
66. 23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you
anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride
shall not be heard in you anymore. For your
merchants were the great men of the earth, for
by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
Social and cultural life will come to a standstill.
There will be no candles in the windows, the clubs
will be closed, and people will be too despondent
and devastated to even consider marriage.
67. The reason for this judgment is given again. In
verse 23 two reasons are given: First, the
merchants were running the world. Politicians
were being bought and sold, and the voice of the
average citizen was swallowed up in the sound of
money greasing palms for political favors. Second,
sorcery had made a revival and will play an
important role in end time events.
68. The word “sorcery” is from the Greek word
pharmacia, which is where we get the word
Pharmacy from. Sorcery, in ancient times involved
the use of mixtures and potions in casting magical
spells. Some believe that the sin that is being
spoken of as cause for judgment in the last days is
drug use.
69. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and
saints, and of all who were slain on the earth."
The final reason is that Babylon killed prophets and
saints. Babylon is a spirit that has existed throughout
history. Whether it was Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah,
Tyre, Babylon, Rome or Jerusalem, it is a spirit that
refuses to hear the voice of the prophet and which is
willing to put to silence any truth that would
challenge the idea that gain is godliness.
70.
71. Chapter 19 has three main movements, each one
preceded by the words, “I heard” or, “I saw.” The
first movement encompasses the rejoicing in
heaven, the introduction of the marriage of the
Lamb, His wife, and the marriage supper. The
second movement depicts Christ coming with His
saints to quell the rebellion upon earth, and the
third movement describes the swift defeat of the
beast, the false prophet, and the armies of the
earth. We are also introduced to “the lake of fire.”
72. 1 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!
The first word of “hallelujah” in Revelation is for
salvation. The redeemed have been have a right to
praise the Lord, anytime, every time, all the time.
73. 2 For true and righteous are His judgments,
because He has (condemned, KJV) 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." 3 Again they
said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and
ever!"
74. The second word of “hallelujah” is for
condemnation—not ours, but the condemnation of
the great harlot. We are reminded that He will
avenge us, and this releases us from the burden of
thinking about how to get even. In Romans 12:19
Paul writes, “Dear friends, never avenge
yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, ‘I
will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve
it,’ says the Lord.” (NLT).
75. 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living
creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat
on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!"
The third word of “hallelujah” is in veneration. The
word “veneration” means, “to regard with deepest
respect or reverence, to worship as holy.” This is
not for a man, not even the Pope. It is not for the
angels, but veneration is reserved for God alone.
76. 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying,
"Praise our God, all you His servants and those
who fear Him, both small and great!" 6And 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!
77. The fourth word of “hallelujah” is in exaltation.
The loud voice that comes from the throne is
probably from one of the creatures that encircle the
throne of God with praise, or perhaps another angelic
being
The divine attribute of “omnipotence” is lifted up. It is
similar to the designation of God as “almighty” (all-mighty).
There is no limit to His power, and therefore
no chance at all that the beast could ever be
victorious.
78. 7 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." 8 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.
79. On one hand it is Christ who prepares His bride,
that being through His blood in which the church
wash their robes and through His Word, but on the
other hand preparation is also an act of the bride
through obedience and through living righteous
lives. God gave the church the fine linen; He gave
us robes of righteousness for our rags of self-righteousness.
80. GREAT HARLOT THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
1) In the wilderness (17:3)
2) Rides the beast (17:3)
3) Adorned in luxury (17:4)
4) Cup of abominations (17:4)
5) Great city (17:18)
6) War against the Lamb (17:14)
7) Ends in destruction (18:21)
1) In heaven (19:1-9)
2) Returns with Christ (19:11-16)
3) Adorned in righteousness (19:8)
4) Water of life (22:1)
5) Holy City (21:2)
6) Reigns with the Lamb (22:5)
7) Lives forever (21-22)
81. 9 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.”
It is almost as though the voice is instructing John
to write an invitation to those who are called to
attend the marriage supper. This is the fourth of
the seven beatitudes in Revelation
82. Those who are not invited are not counted as one
of His own, and therefore are either those whose
fate is with that of the beast, or they are those
who have had to endure the time of Great
Tribulation. The marriage supper is for the bride,
and the bride is the believers who were raptured
into the heavenlies with Christ Jesus.
83. 10 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."
John was so overwhelmed at the presence and
voice of the angel that he fell at the feet of the
angel as in worship, perhaps thinking that this was
Christ. The angel quickly dispels this
misunderstanding.
84. What does the angel mean by, “For the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” It may mean that the
testimony of Jesus (both the written Word and the
living testimony in the life of the saints) is the essence
and underlying content of all genuine prophecy.
Horton says that
the purpose of prophecy is to bear witness to
Jesus, to exalt Him, and to reveal His redemptive
work. It does not exalt the prophet or messenger.
Nor is it intended to merely satisfy curiosity. It
should make us see the glory and holiness of Jesus
and encourage us to be ready.
85. 11 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.
This verse introduces the second movement the
chapter. John sees Jesus. This is the Second
Coming of Jesus to the earth. This is what the
church has anticipated ever since Jesus’ ascension.
This is the fulfillment of Jesus promise to His
disciples in John’s Gospel chapter 14
86. He is called, “Faithful and True.” He promised to
come again, and He will come again. He “is not
slack concerning His promise” (2 Pet. 3:9), but He
is faithful to His Word and true to His promises.
He said, “If I go, I will come again.”
87. 12 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.
Eyes like a flame of fire represent the fact that He is
coming to complete the judgment of God upon the
antichrist, the beast, and the false prophet. He is not
coming as a Lamb, but as Judge, Jury and
Executioner. The “many crowns” represent that He is
royal and fully invested with the sovereign right to
reign and rule upon the earth.
88. Of the many names of God, the one held in such
honor that it was not even spoken aloud in by
Hebrews—Yahweh. This name consisted of four
consonants YHWH (the tetragrammation). Without
the vowel sounds and given the fact that this name
was seen as too sacred to even speak, the reference
to Jesus having “a name that no one knew except
Himself,” may well be an allusion to the fact that
Jesus as well as the Father have that one holy Name
that is the definitive Name of God.
89. Morris and others suggest that John is addressing
an ancient belief that to know a person’s name
was to have power over them. John is saying the,
that no one has power over Jesus.
Easley says, “Because Christ is infinite,
unknowable aspects of his attributes will always
remain. Humans, even in their eternal glorified
condition, may know only what he chooses to
reveal, and his secret name reminds us of this.”
90. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood,
and His name is called The Word of God.
Whose blood covers His robe?
1) His own blood?
2) The blood of the martyrs?
3) The blood of His enemies?
91. The language of treading the winepress, along
with earlier references to the blood of the enemies
flowing in the streets, “favors the view that His
robe is covered with His enemies’ blood” (Easley).
Isaiah 63:2-4 supports Easley’s argument:
2 Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who
treads in the winepress? 3 "I have trodden the winepress alone,
and from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden
them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; their blood is
sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. 4
For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My
redeemed has come and His name is called The Word of God.
(cf. Jn. 1:1)
92. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine
linen, white and clean, followed Him on
white horses.
Not only does Jesus come riding on a white horse,
but His bride comes with Him. That this is His
bride is suggested by the fact that this army is
clothed in the same manner as the bride. They are
no longer coming to be martyred, persecuted and
scorned, they are riding with the warrior Judge to
witness the culmination of the plan of God.
93. 15 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.
According to Heb. 4:12 and Eph. 6:17 the Word of
God is the Sword of the Spirit. Furthermore, Psalm
2 tells us that He will rule with a rod of iron, or with
absolute authority.
94. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a
name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF
LORDS.
This is His title. He is the King with authority and
power over all the kings of the earth, and His is
Lord, or Master, over every ruler of every type.
95. 17 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,
18 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."
96. This is the third and final movement of chapter 19.
Before Jesus and the saints enter into the earthly
realm an angel calls the birds of the air to prepare
for a feast. It is not the marriage supper of the
Lamb that is being referred to here, but a gory
feast for the fowls who will feast on the flesh of
kings, captains, mighty men, horses and those
who sit upon them, as well as the flesh of all
people who remain in opposition against God
upon the earth.
97. 19 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.
The earth gathered to fight against the Lord and
His army, but there isn’t a big battle. The battle of
Armageddon will not be some long protracted war
where the outcome is not in doubt. It will be swift
and sure.
98. 20 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.
The lake of fire is the ultimate destination for all
those who reject the grace and mercy of God. The
beast is captured, along with the false prophet,
and they are both cast into the lake of fire.
99. The capture of the beast and false prophet is not
depicted as a long drawn out process, but is
described with such brevity that it appears to be
little more effort than it needed to pick a mouse
up by the tail and toss it into a cage.
Given the contrast between the power of the
beast and the power of God in Christ, it should
motive everyone to be sure that they are riding
with the right army when that day comes.
100. 21 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.
The beast and false prophet are cast alive into the
lake of fire, while the armies of the earth are killed
with the sword which preceded from His mouth—
again, not a difficult process. Such is the
omnipotence of God.
101. That they are killed does not mean that they will
escape final judgment, but that they, like all who
die in their sins, will yet have to face the great
white throne judgment of God where their verdict
will be read. At that point death, hell, and the
grave will be cast into the lake of fire.
102. It should be obvious! Know whose side you are on.
This theme is repeated throughout Scripture. In
the garden the serpent tempted Eve and Adam to
choose the wrong side. Moses in the wilderness
challenges the people to make up their mind
whose side they were on. In Deuteronomy they
are challenged to choose life or death, blessing or
cursing. Joshua tells the people to choose today
whom they will serve.
103. Jesus tells us that He is the only choice if we want
to see the Father. In Revelation the people are
given clear and dramatic evidence that God is who
He says He is, and He will do what He says He will
do. They are given opportunity to choose God,
and yet the vast majority continue to reject and
refuse God.
