Greetings, fellow eschatologists! We’re starting a new series on Revelation chapter 19. In this chapter, we see the whore of Babylon being judged for her sins. In this first of two posts, we’re going to examine two groups of people that will rejoice when they see Babylon being judged. And we’re going to read about an invitation that goes out for a very special supper. Let’s begin…

Chapter 18: The Whore of Babylon Is Judged

First in a Two-Part Series
by Karen Thompson

REVELATION 19: ALL OF HEAVEN REJOICES AT THE WHORE’S DEMISE,
THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB, AND
THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON

Rev. 19:1 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 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 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5 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 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.

The Bible was not written in chapters and verses. So when you read the book of Revelation, you must remember it was written as one long continuous letter. Every verse flows into the next verse and every chapter flows into the next chapter. Thusly, chapter 19 begins with two groups of people shouting praises to God, but the reason why they are shouting praises to God is in the last verses of chapter 18 where John wrote about the demise of Jerusalem. Revelation 18:20 says, “Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.” And then the very last verse of chapter 18 tells us the reason why they were rejoicing over the demise of Jerusalem: “And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth” (v. 24).

The people that were murdered in the city of Jerusalem—the apostles and prophets—were told to rejoice because God had avenged their deaths by judging the city that was responsible for their murders. As verse 24 tells us, their blood was found in the city where they were slain—Jerusalem.

As a result of the city of Jerusalem being destroyed, chapter 19 begins with two groups of people shouting praises to God. First a group of “much people” and then a “great multitude” of people shouted praises to God.

The Group of “Much People”

Verse one tells us about the first group of people rejoicing: “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven….” John said he heard the sound of a group of “much people.” Then we are told in the rest of verse one and verse two what these “much people” were shouting: “…saying, Alleluia; salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 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.” They were told to rejoice over God avenging their deaths, and that’s exactly what we see them doing.

It’s obvious this smaller group of “much people” is made up of the prophets and apostles that were murdered in Jerusalem. Once again, we see in verse two Jerusalem being called the “great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication.”

Then their final statement is in verse three: “And again they said, Alleluia and her smoke rose up for ever and ever.” The smoke of Jerusalem as a result of being burned with fire rose up “for ever and ever.” This can’t possibly mean that Jerusalem will literally burn for eternity. So this phrasing of her smoke rising up forever and ever must be symbolic. We can surmise that when it says the smoke of Jerusalem’s burning will rise up forever and ever, it means the old sinful Jerusalem is forever destroyed. It will never rise up again. It’s gone for good.

Jerusalem has been destroyed twice before by the Babylonians and the Romans, and both times, it was rebuilt. And it will again be rebuilt. But from this time forward, the new Jerusalem will be a righteous city. And as the prophet Zechariah prophesied, the new Jerusalem will be called the city of truth (Zec. 8:3). Zechariah also prophesied how the city would be a place where God’s people can dwell in safety and live there till old age (v. 4). People who love God will not fear for their lives, because no one will be murdered because of their faith. The Lord said about the new Jerusalem: “And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness” (Zec. 8:8). The old sinful rebellious city will be destroyed forever, never to rise again. It will be replaced by a new and righteous Jerusalem, where God’s people can worship Him without fear of being persecuted.

In verse four, we see the 24 elders have the last word of praise: “And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.” The 24 elders express obeisance to God by prostrating themselves before Him. They marked the end of the worship of the slain prophets and apostles by saying “Amen; Alleluia.”

The Group of a “Great Multitude”

In the next two verses, we see the other group of people who worship God. John said he heard a voice that came out of the throne, saying to the inhabitants of heaven, “Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great” (v. 5).This was directed toward all the residents of heaven, not just a select group. Then in verse six, John said, “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.”

Again, we see the term “many waters” being used to describe people that represent many nations and many languages—a great multitude. Their collective voice is also referred to as “mighty thunderings.” This group of a “great multitude” worship God by saying, “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” The word “omnipotent” means having great or unlimited power or authority. 

The Invitation of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Rev. 19:7 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 thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

In the next verses, we see an invitation is given to the marriage supper of the Lamb. It starts off saying, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (v. 7). By now, you know the bride is Jerusalem. Here we see an announcement of the marriage of the Lamb, who is Messiah, being given. It’s time for the marriage because “his wife hath made herself ready.” The city being ready means the sin and rebellion problem has been dealt with. She is now a pure and righteous city, one that God can dwell within and among His people. That’s what is meant by marriage—God dwelling within the city and with its residents.

Verse eight tells us about her righteousness: “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.” Her readiness for marriage is reflected in her new clothing which are now garments made of fine linen that are clean and white. The white linen symbolizes righteousness. If you recall, her former garments were made of fine linen the colors of purple and scarlet, with gold and precious stones (Rev. 18:16).

The angel told John to write down, “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb” (v. 9). This is the invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The prophet Isaiah prophesied about the day when Jerusalem would be a righteous city once again and become that holy bride. Isaiah prophesied, “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married” (Isa. 62:1–4).

This passage of scripture in Isaiah prophesies Israel’s restoration when Jerusalem will no longer be forsaken and desolate. The Lord will once again find “delight” in Jerusalem. Verse four speaks of the day when instead of being called forsaken and desolate, Jerusalem’s new names would be Hephzibah which means “my delight is in her” and Beulah which means “to be married.”

After the angel finished saying these things, John fell at his feet to worship him. But he told John, “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” (v. 10).

In the next post, we’re going to read about the battle of Armageddon, and more!

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