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From the Rapture to the Second Coming

Revelation 19: "The Second Coming of Jesus"

Topical Index

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The terrible judgments of the Tribulation Period will be brought to an end. All rebellion will stop. Man's efforts to bring peace on earth without God will cease, and finally, Jesus will return bringing days of blessing and bounty for all believers.

A Heavenly Roar

Revelation 19:1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

After the destruction of Babylon and the worldwide reaction that will follow, the roar of a great multitude will be heard in heaven. This multitude will most likely be the Tribulation Saints, but it may include others such as the Old Testament Saints, the Church, and the angels. Praise will be directed to God because salvation, glory, and power belong to him. Salvation speaks of his deliverance. Glory speaks of his judgment. Power refers to his ability to overcome his enemies.

Remember This…

• We Will Give Him Praise For Our/His:
• Salvation — his deliverance
• Glory — his judgment
• Power — his victory

Blood Repaid

Revelation 19:2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."

Those praising God in heaven will declare his truth and justice because he destroyed the one-world prostitute religious system, and avenged (Romans 12:19) the death of his people. The wicked will not get away with their sin forever. God will personally repay those who harm his people. His judgments are true and just because he gives people what they deserve.

Eternal Fire

Revelation 19:3 And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."

This is the second time in this chapter that we hear a shout of "Hallelujah" in heaven. One Hallelujah is for the destruction of Babylon, the mother of prostitutes, and the other one is for the destruction of Babylon the city. However, this verse refers to more than the destruction on earth. It means they have gone to their everlasting destruction. The only smoke that will go up for ever and ever is the smoke of their eternal burning in the Lake of Fire.

What Others are Saying:

Tim LaHaye: No wonder there is rejoicing in heaven at the realization that never again will Satan's religious, commercial, or political systems be permitted to lead men astray. ^19-1

Remember This…

• The smoke of their (those who take the Mark) torment rises for ever and ever (Revelation 14:11).

Worshipping The Father

Revelation 19:4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!"

The Church and the four living creatures will fall down and worship the God (Psalm 106:47, 48; Revelation 5:8, 14; 7:11; 11:16) who sits on the heavenly throne. Here again we see the elders and living creatures falling down as they did before.

What Others are Saying:

David Jeremiah with C.C. Carlson: The angels, the Old Testament Saints, the Church Saints, and the Tribulation Saints will raise their voices in a choir which will reverberate louder than thunder. I've heard great choirs before, but I'm really looking forward to being in this one. ^19-2

Remember This…

• The twenty-four elders (Revelation 4:4) represent the entire Church from Pentecost to the Rapture.
• The elders and living creatures fall down to worship God (Psalm 106:47, 48; Revelation 5:8, 14; 7:11; 11:16).

All Join In

Revelation 19:5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!"

It is impossible to say whose voice this will be because both the Father and the Son will be on the throne. The only certainty is that someone on the throne will approve of the heavenly praise and worship. They will invite everyone who serves God to praise the Lord.

What Others are Saying:

J. H. Melton: The element of praise is so often missing in the life and service of the average Christian and the average church… The world would have a different image of Christianity if there were more rejoicing and praise on the part of the people of God. ^19-3

Thunderous Acclamation

Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

This will be the response to the invitation found in the last verse. All God's servants will shout praises to him because the Lord God Almighty reigns.

This brings to mind King David's plans to build the first Temple (1 Chronicles 22:14-16; 23:1-5) of God. He bought the Temple site, gathered materials, appointed 24,000 Levites to work on it, 6,000 to oversee the construction, 4,000 to guard the building while it was being built, and 4,000 to play instruments and sing praises to God. Think of it, 4,000 people to play music and praise the Lord.

What Others are Saying:

J. Vernon McGee: It takes us all the way back to that covenant which God made with David (2 Samuel 7:16) in which he promised to raise one upon David's throne who would rule the world. ^19-4
Hal Lindsey: You see, Christ purchased the title deed to the earth at the Cross, but he hasn't yet exercised his right to the rulership of this earth. He'll do that when he comes back. ^19-5

The Bride of Christ

Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

This will be a great day in heaven because it will be time for the Lamb's (Christ's) marriage to the Church, the Bride of Christ. God's servants will rejoice and give him glory in anticipation of this event.

A special union will exist between Jesus and the Church similar to the union that exists between a bridegroom and bride upon their marriage. In both instances, the two become one (Ephesians 5:22-25). Jesus is coming back (Matthew 22:1-14) to earth where he and his bride will reign together as one. Before they can reign together, though, they have to be married. The idea is that the Church will be joined together with Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:2) in a special relationship that will equip them to reign with him. He will not come back without his people, and they will not reign without him.

Key Point:

• The Church is the Bride of Christ.

Key Symbols:

• Wedding Of The Lamb
• equipping the saints to reign with him

What Others are Saying:

Ed Hindson: When the marriage of Christ and the Church is finalized, believers will be in a perfect and fixed moral state for all eternity. In the present era, the Church is engaged to Christ in a relationship that is so binding it is described as a marriage. ^19-6

Something to Ponder:

• Be Ready for the Future Events of the Church!
• We'll be taken up in the Rapture—1 Thessalonians 4:13–18.
• We'll go before the judgment seat of Christ—1 Corinthians 3:12–15; 2 Corinthians 5:10.
• We'll attend the marriage and the marriage supper—Revelation 19:7–9.
• We'll return with Christ for his Millennial reign—Revelation 20:6.

The Bridal Gown

Revelation 19:8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

Before its marriage the Church will wear fine linen which is their own righteous acts. A person's deeds will follow one to heaven where they will be worn like a gown or robe. Faith in God makes that possible (Philippians 3:9). When the marriage takes place, the Church will lay their righteousness aside. The holiness and righteousness of Jesus will be imparted to them which will form their clothing for eternity.

Key Point:

• Our deeds on earth will follow us to heaven (Revelation 14:13)

Key Symbols:

• Fine Linen
• our righteous acts on earth

Supper Time!

Revelation 19:9 Then the angel said to me, Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! And he added, These are the true words of God.

Again John heard an angel tell him to write. This time he was told to write about the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. All those who are invited to attend this supper are blessed or happy.

Something to Ponder:

• Robert Frost said a parable is a story that means what it says, and something else besides. Some call them earthly stories with heavenly meanings. These are pretty good definitions. The English word parable comes from the Greek word parabole which means to place beside or alongside of. Thus, a parable is a story that says one thing for the purpose of teaching or illustrating something else. Jesus used them often. He took well known and easily understood truths about earthly things to help people understand difficult truths about spiritual things.
• The following two parables help us to better understand the Marriage Supper of the Lamb:
• The parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) Just as the ten virgins (people) heard that the bridegroom (Jesus) and his bride (the Church) were coming back for their wedding banquet, so too will Jesus come back to earth with his Church at the end of the Tribulation Period for the marriage supper of the Lamb. Only those who have received the Holy Spirit (those with oil) will be allowed to attend this banquet on earth.
• The parable of the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1-14)This parable tells us about a king (God) who prepared a wedding banquet for his son (Jesus). He sent out invitations, but many of those invited (unbelievers) made excuses for not attending, so he invited others (the Church). One man (an unbeliever) was not wearing the right kind of wedding apparel (fine linen) so he was escorted out. The wedding apparel signifies the kind of righteousness needed to attend the banquet. God provides that apparel to all those who accept Jesus as their Savior. Those who do not have it are not prepared to spend eternity with God. This should not be taken lightly. We cannot go to heaven or attend this feast as we are right now. We must be properly dressed, or we will be cast into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12).
• Another verse that provides insight to understanding the marriage supper concerns the
  Lords Last Supper. Jesus said he will not drink the fruit of the vine (Matthew 26:29) again until he drinks it in his Fathers Kingdom. His Fathers Kingdom is his Millennial Kingdom on earth.

What Others are Saying:

J. Vernon McGee: Hear me carefully now: the marriage of the Lamb will take place in
heaven, but the marriage supper will take place upon the earth. ^19-7
Hal Lindsey: While Revelation 19:9 pronounces a blessing on the guests at this supper, it doesn't indicate the time or place of it Its my feeling that the wedding feast of the Lamb and his bride will take place on earth at the very beginning of the Millennial Kingdom of God. ^19-8

Remember This…

• I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

A Case of Mistaken Identity

Revelation 19:10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

After writing what the angel said, John fell at the angel's feet to worship him. That was the wrong thing to do, and the angel stopped John. He called himself a fellow servant of God and told John to, Worship God! During the Tribulation Period multitudes will worship Satan and his Antichrist because the False Prophet will demand it. However, worship of anyone or anything other than God is forbidden (Exodus 20:3).

The testimony of Jesus is an interesting idea. Among other things, Jesus predicted that he would die, be buried, be raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4), and come again (Matthew 24:27; John 14:3). His predictions are his testimony and also prophecy. Everything he predicted is prophecy. Many people do not understand this. They want to throw out or discard prophecy in the Bible not realizing they would be throwing out many things Jesus said. Those who understand this hold to the testimony of Jesus.

What Others are Saying:

Hal Lindsey: Woe to the Christian who minimizes or rejects prophecy in the light of this statement by the angel! It's the same as rejecting Christ. ^19-9

The Triumphant Return

Revelation 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.

This verse is sometimes called the climax of the entire Bible. The Old Testament prophets (Daniel 2:34, 35, 44) prophesied this event; Jesus predicted it (Matthew 24:30); and the New Testament writers (Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 1:7) wrote about it. Everything we have studied in Revelation has been building up to this. It will be a precious sight to the saints who are still alive on earth when it happens, but a terrifying sight to the Antichrist and his followers.

Heaven will open: It opened the first time when John went up (Revelation 4:1, 2) to heaven identifying the Rapture of the Church. It will open a second time when Jesus comes back with his Church.

A rider on a white horse will appear: The first rider on a white horse (Revelation 6:2), the Antichrist, appeared at the beginning of the Tribulation Period. Now, just as in ancient times when mighty warriors and conquerors rode white horses, a second rider on a white horse will come out of heaven to fight and conquer.

The rider (Jesus) will be called Faithful and True: Faithful meaning he has done, and will do, everything God asks him to do. When Jesus walked the earth he did everything God asked of him down to the smallest detail. Now when he comes back the second time, he will again do everything God asks him to do. True meaning he does everything he says he will do. He said he will come back (Matthew 16:27), and here he fulfills that promise.

With justice he judges and makes war is a reference to the purpose of his coming. He will return as a warrior to judge the inhabitants of the earth. He will deal with their sin, settle their eternal destinies, and establish his reign. What he will do will be just and right, because the earth will have been declared ripe for judgment (Revelation 14:14-20).

Key Symbols:

• Second Rider on a White Horse
• Jesus
• Faithful and True
• with justice he judges and makes war

Greater Than Our Understanding

Revelation 19:12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.

Christ's fiery eyes (Revelation 1:14; 2:18) reveal his insight, knowledge, and anger. He will have full knowledge of each individual and their sins. His many crowns reveal his royalty, authority, and majesty. He will have full authority in heaven and on earth.

He has many names that we know: Jesus, Lord, Christ, Wonderful, Son of God, Son of Man, etc. However, when he returns he will wear a special name known only to God. Christians know his name is great, but it is greater than their understanding, since God is the only one who fully understands it.

Key Symbols:

• Second Rider on a White Horse
• Jesus
• eyes like blazing fire
• insight, knowledge, and anger
• many crowns
• royalty, authority, and majesty

Something to Ponder:

• Concerning his Second Coming, Jesus said, Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4, 5). The Apostle Paul said, The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10). In Revelation 6:1, 2 we saw the Antichrist coming on a white horse. Here we see Jesus coming on a white horse. In Revelation 13:1 we saw the Antichrist rise up with ten crowns on his head. Here we see Jesus coming back with many crowns on his head. It would be wise to remember that Satan is a deceiver who masquerades as an angel (2 Corinthians 11:14).

A Bloody Robe

Revelation 19:13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

The robe dipped in blood is a symbol of what is about to take place. The prophet Isaiah tells us it represents the blood (Isaiah 63:1-6) of his enemies. He will be coming back to deal with hundreds of millions of unbelievers at the Battle of Armageddon, and it will be a bloodbath.

His name is the Word of God. This can be explained by looking at one of John's other books, the Gospel of John. In his gospel, he calls Jesus the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). It will be Jesus on the white horse, and the judgment at Armageddon will be the work of God.

According to the Bible there is:

• the written Word of God—John 5:39.
• the spoken Word of God—John 3:34; 6:63.
• the living Word of God—John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 4:12.

The Bible is the written Word of God. The message of Holy Spirit that filled preachers, evangelists, and others is the spoken Word of God. Jesus is the living Word of God. He is the one who fulfills the written and spoken Word of God.

Key Symbols:

• Second Rider on a White Horse
• Jesus
• white robe dipped in blood
• blood of his enemies
• Word of God
• the fleshy expression of God

Remember This…

• Blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia (Revelation 14:20).

What, No Fatigues (BDUs)?

Revelation 19:14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

The armies of heaven will follow Jesus. One army will be composed of the entire Church from Pentecost to the Rapture. A second army will consist of the holy angels, while a third army will be all the martyred Tribulation Saints. The Old Testament Saints will comprise the fourth army. These armies will not be dressed in dark colors or camouflage. Not one soldier will have to fight or get bloodied or soiled. The fine linen, white and clean, will prove, when it is over, that his armies will not have to lift a finger. The white horses indicate Christ intends for his followers to share in his glory as a conqueror.

Let's be honest about where the glory really belongs. A famous verse of scripture says, We are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37). This victory will not belong to us. It will belong to Jesus. Were it not for his love we would be in the wrong army and would be defeated.

Key Symbols:

• Army #1
• Church
• Army #2
• his holy angels
• Army #3
• Tribulation Saints
• Army #4
• Old Testament Saints
• White Horses
• victors with Christ

What Others are Saying:

John Hagee: The first time (Jesus) came into Jerusalem he was riding on a donkey (Matthew 21:1-11). The next time he will come in the final world order. He'll be riding a white horse followed by the armies of Heaven. It will be the greatest mounted posse ever to split the clouds. ^19-10

Sharper Than Any Two-Edged Sword

Revelation 19:15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

Jesus will be the only one in this great heavenly army to carry a weapon. The battle will be his to win or lose. His weapon will be a sharp sword, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

When this world was created, God spoke it into existence (Genesis 1:1-27). When soldiers went to the Garden of Gethsemene to arrest Jesus, he spoke and they fell to the ground (John 18:3-6). At Armageddon he will simply speak to destroy the opposing nations.

Things will change during the Millennium. Jesus will rule them with an iron scepter (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27). He will establish a strong set of standards and require everyone to live by them. Crime and unfaithfulness will not be tolerated. There will be no deception, no lies, no murder, no crime, no war. God's brand of righteousness will prevail for a thousand years. Knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth, and Jesus will finally get the worship he so richly deserves.

This will not come about because man has given up his rebellious ways or because man's efforts to establish world peace have succeeded. This will come about because the Son of God has put down the wicked and established his own reign on earth.

Key Point:

• He will speak, and they will fall.

Key Symbols:

• Sharp Sword
• Word of God
• Iron Scepter
• God's standards
• Winepress of His Wrath
• judgment of the nations

What Others are Saying:

J. Vernon McGee: Christ is going to be a dictator. A chicken won't peep, a rooster won't crow, and a man will not move without his permission. ^19-11

Every Knee Shall Bow

Revelation 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

"King of kings and Lord of lords."

Jesus will return as a King to establish his kingdom. Every earthly king will submit to him. Every individual will call him Lord.

Remember This…

• The Antichrist and his ten puppet kings will make war against the Lamb (Revelation 17:14), but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings.

The Second Supper

Revelation 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,

This is the second of two great suppers mentioned in Chapter 19. An angel will stand in the sun and summon the birds to gather together for a great feast prepared by God.

Remember This…

• An angel told John to write, Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). Those who attend the supper of the Lamb will be at the supper, but those who are at Armageddon will be the supper.

Filled to Overflowing

Revelation 19:18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great."

This predicts the horrible end of the Antichrist's armies. His foolish rulers, mighty men, horses, riders, and troops will become a feast for the birds.

What Others are Saying:

John Hagee: The Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the fields of Armageddon is at once a towering event of human history and the most staggering defeat that any army has ever endured. ^19-12

World War III

Revelation 19:19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.

The Antichrist is named first because he will lead these armies. His ten puppet kings will join him with their troops from all over the world. The Kings of the East alone will have 200 million troops (Revelation 9:16). These armies will have the latest and most powerful weapons known to mankind. Never before have there been so many armies gathered together on one side. Notice why they will gather: to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. These armies will gather to fight the Lord Jesus and those who will come out of heaven with him.

Remember This…

• They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty (Revelation 16:14).

What Others are Saying:

John Hagee: Yet as the armies of the world converge upon Armageddon on a massive collision course, suddenly their objective will change. Instead of contending with each other, they will unite to fight the armies of the Messiah that descend from heaven to the storied fields of Armageddon. ^19-13

Captured!

Revelation 19:20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Out of the hundreds of millions gathered at Armageddon, only two people will be captured: the Antichrist and the False Prophet. They will be seized for using miraculous signs (Revelation 13:13-15) to delude people into taking the Mark of the Beast and worshipping his image. They will be judged immediately and cast into the Lake of Fire.

What Others are Saying:

David Jeremiah with C. C. Carlson: I believe the Bible. It tells us that heaven and hell are real. It also tells us that Jesus is coming again. ^19-14
J. Vernon McGee: The two arch-rebels and tyrants, the Antichrist and the False Prophet, have the questionable distinction of being the first two who are cast into hell. Even the devil hasn't been put there yet. ^19-15
J. R. Church: The Antichrist will be perhaps the greatest intellectual, the greatest politician, the greatest statesman, and the greatest economist who ever lived. But when he usurps the throne of God and gives his allegiance to Satan, he will become the greatest fool. ^19-16

Not One Remaining

Revelation 19:21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Not one of the millions of troops will escape. They will all be killed by the powerful Word of God, and the birds will consume their bodies.

What Others are Saying:

J. R. Church: Christ, the victor, will judge the nations, set up his glorious kingdom and rule over the earth for a thousand years! ^19-17

Something to Ponder:

• When Saul was anointed king over Israel, God told him to kill all the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15), including their women and children, and to destroy everything they had including their animals. But Saul only did part of what God commanded. He disobeyed God, let some of the Amalekites live, and took some of their animals for booty. About 500 year later, Haman (Esther 3:1-15) the Agagite (the royal family of the Amalekites) attempted to have all the Jews killed. By not carrying out God's seemingly extreme command, King Saul opened a door that almost wiped out the entire Jewish nation. Those who do not know the future should be careful about questioning the Word of God.

Study Questions

• Is shouting a proper form of worship?
• What is the spirit of prophecy?
• Who are the armies of heaven?
• How will the False Prophet deceive people? Why will he do it?
• Who will perish at the Battle of Armageddon?

Go to Answers

Chapter Wrap-up

• Those in heaven will rejoice and praise God because he has destroyed Babylon and because the wedding of the Lamb has come. (Revelation 19:1–8)
• All those who are invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be blessed. (Revelation 19:9)
• The Second Coming of Jesus will be marked by his return on a white horse with the armies of heaven behind him. He will destroy the nations of the earth with the Word of God. (Revelation 19:11–16)
• At the Battle of Armageddon Christ will destroy the armies of the earth. He will capture the Antichrist and False Prophet and cast them into the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 19:19–21)
• An angel standing in the sun will invite all the birds of the air to God's supper where they will feast on the dead bodies of those who opposed Christ at Armageddon. (Revelation 19:17, 18, 21)

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