THE REVELATION OF JESUS
REVELATION 19
"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: 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. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia." Revelation 19:1-4. Chapter 19 tells us about how Jesus will fight for His people, and the cruel, corrupt powers that torture and kill, will come to an end forever! This is really the story of Jesus coming for to rescue His bride and receiving His kingdom. Verse after verse tell of the joy of the redeemed ones in all the different groups; how they all agree that the Lord God is so wonderful and they are so happy that He is reigning.
Once again we are shown the joy of the unfallen world, the angels and the redeemed that Jesus has brought about justice and the cruel powers have finally come to an end. "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. 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. 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." Revelation 19:7-9. There is much to think about here in these triumphant word pictures. Here we are reminded of the parables Jesus told about the wedding feast and the wedding garment all must have on to be a guest there. By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure, spotless character which Christ's true followers will possess. To the church it is given "that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white," "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." Rev. 19:8. The fine linen, says the Scripture, "is the righteousness of saints." Eph. 5:27. It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour. Have we the wedding garment on? Or shall we be of that number that shall be left outside because unready? How anxious we are that every one of you should have the wedding garment on. Not the garment of your own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ; that you should have this on, and so be prepared, that, when the examination of the guests shall take place, you may not be of those that shall be bound hand and foot, and cast out, because you are unready. This was such a wonderful scene that John, caught up in the wonder of it all, fell down to worship the angel who was showing him the scenes, But he is quickly reminded that he must not do this—he must only worship God. He is told something very important here—Rev. 12 tells us that the Remnant believers will keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. Now here we see what the Testimony of Jesus is—it is the Spirit of Prophecy—that is the remnant of God's faithful ones will have the true gift of prophecy among them. We also see that the angels are God's servants and they are employed in caring for us and teaching us as Jesus directs them. Yet there is more to this work of the angels, as their job is to guide and direct every person who chooses to follow Jesus with all their heart. They also work with people who haven’t given their hearts to Jesus, trying to guide them to the light. If you really give your whole heart to Jesus, then the angels will help and guide you and God’s ‘Spirit of Prophecy’ will teach you; both through the writings of Ellen White, and the Bible. Sometimes, even though you are not a prophet, He will show you things by dreams and impressions. But always check out these things by the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy writings, because Satan tries to fool us. God will never send you a message that says something that doesn’t agree with the Bible and Mrs. White’s writings.
Sometimes
the ‘Holy Spirit of Prophecy’ guides people who have given their hearts to
Jesus, to help and teach people who don’t know Him yet. In the story of
Phillip and the Ethiopian, this Spirit sent Phillip out where he met a person
who wanted to learn about Jesus.
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." Revelation 19:15. Now when Jesus comes, He is not going to be riding a real horse with an army on horses behind Him—again this is a word-picture to teach us things about the final defeat of sin and Satan. It is a scene of grandeur and triumph and He is shown as the hero on the white charger coming to rescue His bride. It is a picture we can all identify with. His many crowns show that He is Lord of all; and his bloodstained garments speak of the terrible price He has paid for our salvation as he trod the winepress alone. The fine white linen again is telling of the perfect righteousness of God in this warfare against sin. He is called the WORD of God—He identifies with the Bible and again we see that sharp two edged sword of God's Holy Word.
"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:16.
"And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." Revelation 19:18-18. This is again a word-picture giving us information and assurance that though all the mighty men and powers of earth be arrayed against the people who love Jesus and keep His commandments, they will be destroyed and Jesus will be triumphant and His people will be safe and happy with Him forever after! Jesus referred to this time when he said:
"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." Revelation 19:19-21.
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