All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name!
Of this hymn Robert Morgan writes in his wonderful book Then Sings My Soul: “Reverend E. P, Scott, a missionary to India, wrote of trying to reach a savage tribe in the Indian subcontinent. Ignoring the pleading of his friends, he set off into the dangerous territory. Several days later, he met a large party of warriors who surrounded him, their spears pointed at his heart. Expecting to die at any moment, Scott took out his violin, breathed a prayer, closed his eyes, and began singing, ‘All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name!’ When he reached the words, ‘Let every kindred, every tribe,’ he opened his eyes. There stood the warriors, some in tears, every spear lowered. Scott spent the next two years evangelizing the tribe.”
Jesus, the Name above all names. Paul writes in Romans 10:11-13 (NIV):
11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Paul also tells us in Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV):
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And again, Paul speaks of the supremacy of Christ in Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV):
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Lastly, Paul tells us in Romans 11:33-36 (NIV):
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Now we are going to read Chapter 19 and discuss:
Prayer: Father open our eyes that we can see clearly exactly what you would have us to learn. Take away all that is about me and fill me to the fullness of You Lord Jesus because if you do not teach us nothing will be taught. We ask this for Your glory alone.
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, 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.” 3 And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.” 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!” 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!” 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. 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. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 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.” 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.” 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. 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. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 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. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. 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, 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.” 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. 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. 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.
Prayer: Lord if you do not teach us nothing will be taught. Holy Spirit, make the Word come alive to us – make it come alive. Both for your glory and our good.
After the destruction of the religious, economic and political worldviews of Babylon the Great occurring in Chapters Seventeen and Eighteen, the scene now shifts in Verses One through Four of Chapter Nineteen from the earth to heaven. The Great Tribulation is now coming to its end and the spotlight focuses on heaven and the second coming of Christ Jesus – Praise Him!
For the saints and angels it is a time both of rejoicing and victory. Their prayers now become praise and their “hosannas” (“Save!”) ending in hallelujahs. They praised Him for the Truth of His Word and for the righteousness of His providence particularly in the downfall of Babylon and all that she entailed. John states he heard something sounding like a loud roar of a great multitude in heaven praising God with cries of “Hallelujah!” “Hallelujah” is a combination of two Hebrew words “hallal” meaning “praise” and “Yah” which is an abbreviated form of “Yahweh” meaning, of course, God. It occurs in the New Testament only four times all of which are in Revelation. It has been dubbed “the New Testament Hallelujah Chorus.”
Praising and thanking God for what we already have is praying most effectively for what is still to be done for us. The praises of the saints fan the fire of God’s wrath against the enemy. Praise is the declaration of the power, glory and majesty of God – Who He is intrinsically – and, BTW, there is no such thing as silent praise. Praise must give rise to our voices as praise is tied to our lips, unlike worship which can occur quietly in a believer’s heart. David – the man after God’s own heart - tells us in Psalms 34:1-3 (NIV):
1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
And again in 2 Samuel 22:47-51 (NIV):
47 “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! 48 He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, 49 who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me. 50 Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name. 51 He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”
Lastly, Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV):
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
God is infinitely more worthy of praise and celebration than any earthly being or thing. He is so totally other, Amen? This is why we see the great multitude in heaven crying out salvation, power and glory belong to God and God alone. They are rejoicing over the destruction of Babylon in all its many despicable forms.
The reasons to praise God are manifold but here the praise is specifically for His just and true judgments both in condemning what is wrong and avenging the blood of the righteous in the destruction of Babylon’s world systems. The smoke of the torment of this godless society is said to rise forever and ever. It is a perpetual judgment of the people who engaged in her wicked deeds.
At Christ’s second coming He will judge those who are unfaithful to their Creator. They have corrupted the earth with their sexual immorality and have inflicted violence on God’s servants. It is appropriate to praise in light of God’s righteous judgments and His establishment of justice where injustice had been the rule.
The 24 elders, representing the church of the present age and the four living creatures who are angelic beings which are also mentioned in Revelation 4:6-8 (NIV) sing a “Hallelujah Chorus.” This is another reminder for us that the 24 elders representing the church are distinguished from the Tribulation saints as described in Verse One as “a great multitude.”
In Verses Five through Six we discover still another voice heard from the throne calling God’s servants to praise. It is probable that this is a voice of an angel rather than the voice of God or the voice of the saints. The occasion for this praise is God’s judgment against evil people who have oppressed the saints and the now approaching full reign of Almighty God. All are invited to join in the praise. The chorus was large and loud. The verb “praise” is in the present tense and is therefore a command to “keep on praising” the Lord. “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns”- F. F. Bruce calls this expression the keynote of the whole book.” Yes, for indeed He always reigns. He is never off His throne.
There are two ways in which God can reign: in blessing and in judgment. Either way, it is an awesome thing when the Lord manifests His presence and establishes His rule in an open and visible way. Much akin to the revival presently going on in Kentucky at Asbury University where it has been said the Holy Spirit is palpable likening it to being wrapped in a warm blanket – this revival began on February 8 and it still continues of this writing. Here, in Revelation, we discover God reigning in judgment. In Verses Seven through Eight of Chapter Nineteen believers are told to rejoice and be glad and to glorify God because the wedding of the Lamb has come. Continuing on in the praise of the Lord their God, the great multitude now announces a major feature of the Lord’s reign upon the earth - His marriage to His bride. The great multitude expresses joy that the wedding of the Lamb has come and that His bride has made herself ready - robbed in the righteousness of Christ – the garment that must be worn for entrance. This is described in Scripture in Revelation 19:8 (NIV) as:
8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
In the Old Testament the high priest’s clothing included linen. We see in Exodus 28:42-43 (NIV):
42 “Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. 43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants.”
The plural expression “the righteous acts” in verse eight seems to refer to the righteous deeds wrought by the saints through the grace of God. Though all this has been made possible by God’s grace, the emphasis here seems to be on the works of the bride rather than on her standing as one who has been justified by faith. What do we do with what He has given us. It is important. We are to be profitable servants with what God has placed in our hands. All is His and we are merely stewards. It matters how we live this one life we have been given. The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 (NIV) gives us further insight:
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
This parable from our Lord Jesus stresses the need for our preparedness upon His return. I am often fearful we have gotten grace down so good that we are trampling on it, Amen? True repentance will manifest itself in sincere works for the Savior through His power and for His glory alone. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit we are to go forth doing His bidding for His glory and for our good.
Verse Eight seems to be a beautiful picture drawn of the righteousness and holiness of the Bride in that hour described by her apparel. Again, the reference here seems to be in what God has done through her. The purpose of Jesus’ death was to make her holy, without blemish and free from accusation.
This event of the wedding supper is subsequent to the destruction of Babylon. If this occurs at the end of the Great Tribulation, which is immediately climaxed and succeeded by the second coming of Christ, the natural presumption is that the marriage supper takes place on earth in connection with Christ’s second coming to earth.
John Walvoord writes regarding marriage customs in the ancient world:
“Though marriage customs varied in the ancient world, usually there were three major aspects: (1) The marriage contract was often consummated by the parents when the future spouses were still children. The payment of a suitable dowery was often a feature of the contract. When consummated, the contract meant that the couple was legally married. (2) When the couple had reached a suitable age, the second step in the wedding took place. This was a ceremony in which the bridegroom, accompanied by his friends, would go to the bride’s house to escort her to his home. (3) Then the bridegroom would bring his bride to his home, and the marriage supper, to which guests were invited, would take place.”
The marriage symbolism is beautifully fulfilled with the relationship of Jesus to His Bride.
In Verses Nine and Ten of Chapter Nineteen we find the fourth beatitude in Revelation this time announcing the blessedness of those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. So awesome is this revelation that John falls at the feet of the angel in an attitude of worship. Such a reaction from John, however, is not appropriate towards an angel and John is rebuked by the angel stating he was a fellow servant (slave) with him and his brothers. It is God alone that is to be worshipped. It is significant that it is not only people who are redeemed that are slaves of Christ, but even the angels have a similar obligation of implicit obedience to Him. Together they form the body that bears testimony to Jesus.
The mention of the Lamb and marriage feast may seem incongruous to us yet it makes apparent a significant Truth: Even Christ in all His highest glory still wishes us to regard Him as the sacrifice for sin as He delights to remember that He was our Great Sacrifice. Spurgeon states, “He links the memory of His great grief with the manifestation of His great glory. The marriage supper is a feast of love – there love is at home.”
The marriage feast will be bringing God’s people into the closest and happiest union with Christ in glory. The day will come when we will see Him face to face and know Him with a fuller and clearer knowledge that is not possible for us to know Him today. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV):
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Like other marriage celebrations, it will be the fulfillment of long awaited hopes and dreams. We have so little understanding of the heart of Christ for that day yet we can know for this He lived and for this He died. It will be fullness of joy to be sure!
The revelation of Jesus here stands in great contrast to the Jesus of the Gospels. In the Gospels He was revealed in rejection, humility, suffering and death. His return is one of triumph as well as glory, sovereignty, and majesty. In many respects Christ’s second coming is not only the high point of Revelation, but the high point of all history as well. Here is the manifestation of the Son of God in all His glory, the demonstration of God’s sovereignty and the beginning of the end of human rebellion. All creation is now under the Son’s control and it is wonderfully bliss. God desires for us to look forward in anticipation of this great event – just as Jesus is.
In Verses Eleven through Fourteen of Chapter Nineteen John sees heaven standing open and there before him was a white horse whose rider is described as “faithful and true” – which of course is Jesus. His title is particularly sweet to believers for it reminds us that God is faithful to His promises and loving toward all He has made. MacArthur writes: “Heaven opens this time not to let John in, but to let Jesus out.” This passage contains one of the most graphic pictures of the second coming of Jesus anywhere in Scripture. Christ here is coming to the earth with the specific purpose of bringing divine judgment and establishing His righteous rule on earth.
Many Scriptures anticipate His return in both the Old and New Testaments. Zechariah 14:3-4 (NIV) tells us:
3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.
When Jesus returns, He will come back to the Mount of Olives – the point from which He had ascended into heaven. In Acts 1:7-11 (NIV) we are told:
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Jesus’ return to earth will be dramatic with the mountain splitting in half evidencing His great power and authority. The second coming of Christ is described by Jesus in Scripture in Matthew 24:27-31 (NIV):
27 “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. 29 Immediately after the distress of those days ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 30 At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
The Bible is clear that Jesus’ return will be a glorious event that all the world will see – both believers and non-believers. The whole heavens will be illuminated by His glory climaxing in Christ returning in the clouds with great power, triumph and splendor accompanied by the saints. Christ is presented as the true Ruler riding a white horse indicative of a conqueror – a sign of victory or triumph. The true King of kings and Lord of lords is going to triumph over those who blasphemously assumed control over the world. The titles given here to Jesus are in keeping with the divine judgment that will follow. He is declared to be faithful and true and to judge and make war in righteousness. In Christ’s first coming He demonstrated God’s grace and truth in His Second Coming He will demonstrate the sovereignty and righteousness of God. Scripture notes that His eyes are as a flame of fire and His head is crowned with many crowns – the symbol of Sovereignty. He possesses a Name that no one knows as it is yet unrevealed. But some actual titles are given for Him as well. Revelation 19:13 (NIV) says, His name is the Word of God. We see this also in John 1:1-2 (NIV):
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
Also, in 1 John 1:1 (NIV):
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
Lastly, Revelation 19:16 (NIV) tells us:
16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
The rider is obviously Jesus Christ, returning to the earth in all His glory and splendor. That He is coming as Judge is further supported by the fact that He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood. This suggests that Christ is the ineffable, indescribable One. His robe was dipped in blood indicating the bloodshed to come. Isaiah 63:2-6 (NIV) tells us:
2 Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? 3 “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. 4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come. 5 I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. 6 I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground.”
As the Lord will fight and defeat the nations, in the Battle of Armageddon, He will take vengeance on them in His anger and wrath. God’s wrath is also pictured as being like a winepress. Though that day will bring doom to the Lord’s enemies, it will mean deliverance, redemption and salvation for those of His covenant people who have turned to Him.
In that day of judgment it will be too late for anyone to expect the mercy of God. There is nothing more inflexible than divine judgment where God’s grace has been spurned and spit at. This scene in Scripture is in direct contradiction that God is dominated entirely by His attribute of love. He is also a God of justice.
In Verses Fifteen and Sixteen of Revelation Chapter Nineteen we discover the sharp sword coming out of our Lord Jesus’ mouth with which He uses to strike the nations. His Word is powerful, effective and sharper than any double edged sword. It is His weapon of choice. Of this passage Tony Evans’ writes:
“Because Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, conquering every enemy on earth will be a matter of relative ease. It will be a matter of speaking. This is nothing new, though. From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is pictured as possessing an authoritative Word. John 1:1 says of Jesus, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ At creation Jesus spoke the words, ‘Let there be light’ (Genesis 1:3 (NIV)), and by His Word light came about. It was by that same authoritative Word that Jesus caused the devil to flee in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)) and sent a legion of demons out of a demon-possessed man and into a herd of pigs (Mark 5:1-13 (NIV)) and calmed a tumultuous sea (Matthew 8:26 (NIV)). In each of these instances, the way He brought about powerful results was by speaking His Word. And so shall it be at the end of time. Likewise, for followers of Jesus, we must not simply know God’s Word or study it, but also verbally quote it. So, when was the last time that you actually quoted God to another person or even to the devil in order to handle a specific situation? If you have truly received authority from God – which all believers have – and you quote the Word accurately to people or forces of Satan, it carries intrinsic authority to accomplish God’s purposes. In some cases, it draws a person to salvation. In others, it causes a hardened sinner to be without excuse for his or her conduct. In no situation, however, will a child of God verbally quote and obey the Word of God and have that Word return empty.”
Scripture states of Scripture in Isaiah 55:11 (NIV):
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIV) also tells us:
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’ s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
The Apostle Paul adds in 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV):
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
God’s Word is powerful and we are not to neglect it as Moses told the Israelites, God’s Word is not to simply be idle words for us it is to be our life.
Christ has the right to rule the earth, His power and majesty will demonstrate His authority as He brings His sovereign judgment upon a wicked and depraved world.
In Verses Seventeen through Nineteen of Chapter Nineteen we discover vultures being summoned to gather together for the great supper of God so that they may eat the flesh of kings and military commanders, of horses and riders, of the free and the slave, of the small and the great. People of all walks and classes. There will be no division. Divine judgment is no respecter of persons or stations in life. Indeed, it is the great equalizer of all. Remember, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – no exceptions. The context of this summons is that Satan, the Antichrist, and their allies will seek to destroy Jesus when He returns at the battle of Armageddon. (Good luck to that!)
In Verse Nineteen we see the active opposition of the forces of evil of the Antichrist and his allies against our Lord Jesus and His forces. This is referred to as “the battle on the great day of God Almighty.” Jesus will utterly defeat them leaving their bodies to be eaten by the birds of the air. Birds of prey are always evidence of death. Matthew 24:28 (NIV) tells us:
28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
The destruction of the beast’s armies is the prelude to the destruction of the beast himself and his associates. John in his vision sees not only the carnage but also the beast, referring to the world ruler and those gathered to make
war against Jesus and His army from heaven. Jesus strikes down the wicked who are gathered to wage war against Him.
Lastly, in Verses Twenty and Twenty-One of Chapter Nineteen we see Jesus effortlessly defeat the beast or Antichrist and the false prophet and they are taken alive and thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. By comparison with other Scriptures, it seems that the beast and the false prophet are the first to inhabit the lake of fire, which is reserved for those who have been finally judged as unworthy of eternal life in God’s presence. These were Satan’s masterpieces who precede Satan himself to this final place of everlasting torment and punishment into which he is thrown a thousand years later. The rest of the evil dead, after being judged at the great white throne, will follow the beast, the false prophet, and the devil into this eternal doom and despair.
In Verse Twenty-One we discover that those not killed in the first stage are now put to death. The entire army of the beast is killed. It appears that the army is killed by the sword that comes from Christ’s mouth.
The Word of God makes it clear that God so loved the world that he gave His One and Only Son, and that all who would believe in Him, accepting His free gift of grace, would not perish but have eternal life. They would be immeasurably blessed eternally. On the other hand, those who spurn God’s wonderful gift of grace and mercy must experience His judgment without mercy. It is foolish indeed to rest only in portions of Scripture that tickle our ears but not take to heart those portions that call us to account. We often speak of the love of God yet reject the portions that deal with His righteous judgments. Yet, by spurning His grace, we will experience His wrath. Our treasures will not be able to save us. Job 20:20B (NIV) tells us:
“He cannot save himself by his treasure.”
Job 20:22-23 (NIV) also tells us:
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him. 23 When he has filled his belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows upon him.
Scripture makes it clear that there is no annihilation in store for those who reject Christ. Some have wrongly taught that the wicked are punished in hell for a time and then simply cease exist yet it is clear from Scripture this is not true. The punishment of the wicked is eternal.
Lastly, Job 20:25B-29 (NIV) tells us:
“Terrors will come over him; 26 total darkness lies in wait for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. 27 The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him. 28 A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath. 29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God.
Our Lord Jesus Himself stated in Matthew 7:24-29 (NIV):
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
“He who has ears let him hear.” Matthew 11:15 (NIV).
These are Beth’s personal notes, due to this fact sources are not often stated.
