Revelation 19

19 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2for his judgments are true and just; he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants." 3Once more they cried, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever." 4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!"

This comes immediately after the destruction of "Babylon" described in the 17th and 18th chapters. Verse 3 contains an allusion to Isaiah 34:10, which prophesies the destruction of Edom, one of Israel's many enemies. The Babylon of the last two chapters is the enemy of the New Jerusalem, and so that New Jerusalem, the Church, rejoices in her destruction.

Keeping with the notion that Revelation is a spiritual look at the Liturgy, verse 4 brings us to the Great Amen that we sing out just before praying the Our Father and receiving Communion.

5And from the throne came a voice crying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great." 6Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure"--for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9And 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 true words of God." 10Then 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 brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Verse 5 ends with an allusion to Psalm 115:13: you who fear him, small and great. Psalm 115 is a poem that exults in the reality and power of God, and derides idols and their worship, reminding us again of the crimes of Babylon, and reminding us that we must fear God alone. Vv. 7-9 bring us right up, liturgically, to the main event: The Eucharist--the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! Notably, the Bride, the Church, is clothed in white, which represents purity. She is robed so because of the deeds of the saints: a reminder again to persevere in holiness. Verse 10 once again highlights the theme of combating idolatry.

11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. 13He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. 15From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.

The coming of Christ! Just as we see Him at the beginning of Revelation, so He comes at the end, triumphant and in power! The Scriptural allusions in this section, in vv. 11, 13, 15, and 16, are from Isaiah 11:4; 63:1; and Psalm 2:9. They serve to show that this person is indeed the Messiah.

Christ comes among us in the Eucharist no less powerfully, though perhaps less dynamically. The Eucharist is our key weapon in the combat against the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. Those who persevere fight with Christ, dressed, as He is, in white.

This isn't "at the end of the world" necessarily. This is Now! Christ is among us now! Yet, also, He will come again in glory at the End.

17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18to 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."

The end of verse 17, and beginning of verse 18 are an allusion to Ezekiel 39:17. The allusion is completed in verse 21 of this chapter, which alludes to Ez 39:20. It is a reference to God's final defeat of Israel's enemies, and His showing His glory to the whole world.

19And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who sits upon the horse and against his army. 20And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had worked 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 sulphur. 21And the rest were slain by the sword of him who sits upon the horse, the sword that issues from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

This is it! The huge climactic battle of Revelation--the whole World verses the Church with Christ. You'd think there'd be more to it, but victory is a given when you're with God!

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