요한계시록 Chapter 19

Translation: ESV

1

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

Key Message

The completion of God's judgment calls forth heavenly praise, and praise of God's salvation, glory, and power reaches its supreme climax.

▸After the fall of Babylon (chapter 18), the praise of 'Hallelujah' erupts in heaven.

After the fall of Babylon (chapter 18), the praise of 'Hallelujah' erupts in heaven. This is the only text in the New Testament where 'Hallelujah (ἁλληλουϊά)' appears (four times in vv. 1, 3, 4, 6). 'Hallelujah' is Hebrew for 'Praise the LORD.' The declaration that salvation, glory, and power belong to God is the basis for this praise. The heavenly praise stands in dramatic contrast with the earthly lamentation in chapter 18.

Related Verses

Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!
2

for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants."

Key Message

God's judgments are true and just, and the heavenly confirmation that retribution for the blood of martyrs will certainly be carried out.

▸Two reasons for praise are presented: first, God's judgments are true and just; second, He has avenged the blood of the martyrs.

3

Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever."

Key Message

The content of the second Hallelujah is that Babylon's fall is eternal and irrevocable — and this is heaven's joy.

▸The second Hallelujah is proclaimed.

4

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!"

Key Message

All beings in heaven responding in unison with 'Amen. Hallelujah!' to God's judgment and sovereignty is the essence of perfect worship.

▸The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures (the two groups of heavenly worship) fall down together and respond with 'Amen.

5

And from the throne came a voice saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great."

Key Message

The completion of God's final judgment leads all the saints — transcending social stratification — to praise God.

▸A voice from the throne calls all God's servants to praise.

6

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

Key Message

The declaration that the Almighty God reigns is the final conclusion of history, and this is the ultimate content of all praise.

▸With the fourth Hallelujah, the greatest declaration in history resounds: 'The Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

7

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;

Key Message

The marriage feast of the Lamb is the goal of all history — the beginning of eternal joy in the perfect union of God and His people.

▸The greatest event in history is proclaimed: 'The marriage of the Lamb has come.

8

it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

Key Message

The fine linen that is the saints' wedding garment represents their righteous deeds — given not by their own merit but by God's grace.

▸The bride's wedding garment is described as 'fine linen, bright and pure.

9

And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."

Key Message

Being invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb is the greatest blessing, and this invitation is a certain promise grounded in God's true word.

▸This is the fourth beatitude in Revelation (the fourth of the seven): 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

10

Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Key Message

Worship is to be offered to God alone, and the core of all true prophecy is the testimony about Jesus Christ.

▸When John tries to worship the angel, the angel refuses: 'I am a fellow servant; worship God.

11

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

Key Message

The returning Christ comes riding a white horse, named Faithful and True, for righteous judgment and war.

▸Heaven opens and a rider on a white horse appears.

12

His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.

Key Message

The returning Christ comes with supreme sovereignty (many diadems) and omniscience (eyes like a flame of fire), and His essence cannot be fully grasped by human beings.

▸Three aspects of the returning Christ: eyes like a flame of fire (a repetition of 1:14, omniscience), many diadems (symbolizing all royal authority — more than the beast's crowns in 13:1), and a secret name.

13

He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

Key Message

The returning Christ is 'The Word of God' — through Him creation, salvation, and judgment are all accomplished.

▸Christ is clothed in 'a robe dipped in blood.

14

And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

Key Message

At Christ's Second Coming, the heavenly army composed of saints and angels accompanies Him — and their weapon of war is their holiness.

▸The armies of heaven follow Christ.

15

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Key Message

The returning Christ directly carries out the final judgment with the sword of His word, a rod of iron, and the winepress of God's wrath.

▸Three acts of judgment by the returning Christ: first, striking down the nations with a sharp sword coming from His mouth (the Word of God, Hebrews 4:12); second, ruling them with a rod of iron (the Messianic prophecy of Psalm 2:9); third, treading the winepress of God's fury (Isaiah 63:3).

16

On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Key Message

The Second Coming of Christ — King of kings and Lord of lords — makes the final declaration that all worldly authority must bow before Him.

▸The supreme title of the returning Christ: 'King of kings and Lord of lords.

17

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God,

Key Message

The 'great supper of God,' contrasting with the marriage supper of the Lamb, is a shocking image of judgment symbolizing the complete defeat of evil.

▸A shocking scene depicting the outcome of the Battle of Armageddon: birds are invited to gather and eat the corpses.

18

to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great."

Key Message

God's final judgment completely defeats all the forces of evil regardless of social stratification.

▸A list of corpses is enumerated: kings, captains, mighty men, horses and their riders, free and slave, small and great.

19

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.

Key Message

All the forces of evil gather against Christ, but in doing so they bring about their own destruction.

▸The description of the Battle of Armageddon: the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gather to fight against the rider on the white horse (Christ) and His army.

20

And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Key Message

The beast and the false prophet are immediately defeated in the final battle and thrown into the lake of fire — the eternal punishment.

▸The outcome of the battle is dramatic: the beast and the false prophet are immediately captured and thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

21

And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Key Message

A single word from Christ renders all the world's military power helpless — and this is the conclusion of the final battle.

▸After the beast and the false prophet are captured, the rest of the armies are slain by the sword coming from Christ's mouth.