Aug 15 – Rev 19 – “Hallelujahs, a marriage invitation and a mop-up” – v.1-5: We move to the final chapters, and the light grows bright as we ‘come further up and further in’. The time of Babylon is over. Her demise covered over a tenth of the Revelation – that should give us an indication of how pervasive her apostasy and other perversions are, and v1-4 here indicate how joyfully God’s victory is received in heaven. “How long, O Lord?” was the question asked by the martyrs in 6:10 – and the answer isn’t “Wait” anymore – it’s “Now!” We tend to see history and the future as a series of separate events that we give names to. They simply fit onto a timeline, and we don’t connect them in other ways to the great stuff of life that swirls around. We give an event a beginning, an end and a name – The Second World War – and then it fits nicely in its place. But neither history nor God’s future design happen in a vacuum – it’s all connected in myriad ways, and the greater and more significant the event, the further back (in time) its roots go, and the further forward in time and the wider afield its effects are felt. So when the martyrs ask “how long?” before God will avenge as promised, or when we ourselves ask when the rapture or “The Day of the Lord” will arrive, we must understand that there is a roadmap that God has determined, and He will not change it – for that would mean a broken promise somewhere, and that is not possible with God. On earth, with our deaths looming, time is a precious commodity; in eternity not so much! In one way at least, Rev 19 is a repeat of chapter 5 – in the sense that someone triggers praise, which causes the 24 elders to fall down and worship (5:8-10, 19:4), which impels vast legions of others to join in (5:11-13, 19:6-8). The beauty of corporate fellowship is that we can be reminded of the need to worship, reminded of the rightness of praise, and encouraged in the fullness of our response: the elders suddenly falling down to worship God in His greatness. v.6-10: Even as Armageddon’s battle is about to rage, the Hallelujahs ascend. “The Bride has made herself ready” – the church is now in heaven and no part of it is left on earth – the bride has been brought to her groom’s house. There will be a marriage supper as everyone feasts. The Lamb has conquered, and – through Him – so has His bride the church (3:21; 12:11; esp. 15:2). The bride is prepared (Isa 61:10) and the supper is imminent – but first, just this little matter of mopping up the unholy three. v.11-21: See it as significant that in these 11 verses the mere description of Christ fills over half of them. Marvel at the One behind that description - John strains to do Him justice. Momentous as this battle is, and for all its implications, its reputation and its finality, the beast and the kings get but a casual 1-verse mention –they were there – and immediately 2 final verses mentioning the end. It’s got all the significance of a piece of news relegated to the back page. The hallelujahs and the marriage take the banner headlines. John’s perspective switches back to earth and this time metaphors are insufficient and he leads with names, not symbols – here is the Son and He is Faithful and True and Righteous. What image would you use to convey those? The only image that could convey them would be Jesus Himself – and so it is. The rest of the description, however, now comes in symbol form: He is on a horse – a military image of authority and control; His eyes a flame – the force that burns off the dross and leaves the pure gold; His head bears many crowns – the right to rule all kingdoms; and on it a name written that is His alone. His robe is dipped in blood – the holy blood spilt for our redemption, and His name is The Word of God. Now at the end of his life, John has never removed himself from that first much-loved verse we have of his – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God” (John 1:1). The biggest metaphor of them all is made tangible and sits in front of our faces – Scripture is the living faithful image of the Son of God. From His mouth comes a sharp sword – the Word of God (Rev 1:16, 2:12) – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, …” (Heb 4:12a). He will rule “with a rod of iron” – today we would interpret this to mean a cruel and vicious rule, but that is a wrong interpretation – in those days iron was something that was strong and stable. It is also unyielding, as will be God’s wrath at the end when the grapes of wrath are trod. Beside the name on His head, and the one by which He is known, His robe and thigh have a third – “King of kings and Lord of lords” (v16). Powerful armies are gathered there on earth (16:16), waiting for Christ. Heaven opens and He is there, and behind Him come rank after serried rank – vast armies of the heavenly, also riding in power. No armor is apparent – they wear linen, white and pure. We gain no sense of effort on their part – the armies are slain by the sword of Christ. And then it’s over. The antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown into the lake of fire. This telling is finished. It is not yet the final day for the dragon Satan, but that too is near. Today’s takeaway: Every bad thing has an ending, but the good will go on and on. Evil can mock, it can threaten, it can tempt but it cannot survive. And as this chapter has shown so clearly – it is a footnote, or at best a minor theme, in the great story God has written for us. He has so much more in store for us, but we must conquer – and conquer we shall, if we lean on Him. Let us be slanted saints! “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says...” - S
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 18:21:37 +0000
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