The Word Made Fresh
1Then I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a huge crowd in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power to our God,
2whose judgments are true and fair.
For he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her sinfulness,
and has avenged the blood of his servants on her.”
3And again they cried, “Hallelujah! The smoke rises from her forever and ever!”
4Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell and worshiped God who is seated on the throne. They cried, “Amen! Hallelujah!” 5And a voice came from the throne, “Praise our God, all you who serve him and all, both small and great, who fear him!” 6Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a great multitude and rushing waters and crashing peals of thunder crying out,
“Hallelujah! The Lord our God the almighty reigns!
7Let us rejoice and triumph and give him glory!
For the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride is ready;
8She has been granted to wear fine linen, bright and pure.”
Fine linen is the sacred work of the saints.
9Then the angel told me, “Write this down: ‘Those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb are blessed. These are the true words of God.’” 10Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said, “Don’t! I am a fellow servant with you and your companions who keep the witness of Jesus. Worship God! The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy.”
11Then I saw heaven open and there stood a white horse. Its rider was named Faithful and True, and he judges righteously and makes war. 12His eyes were like fiery flames, and he was wearing many crowns inscribed with his name which no one knew but himself. 13The robe he wears was stained with blood, and his name is God’s Word. 14Heaven’s armies, dressed in pure white fine linen followed him on white horses. 15A sharp sword to strike down the nations came from his mouth, and he will lead them with an iron rod. He will tread the wine press of God the Almighty’s wrath. 16On his robe and thigh his name is inscribed: “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.”
17Then I saw an angel standing in sunlight, calling out loudly to all the birds that fly in the air, “Come together for the great feast of God. 18Eat the flesh of kings and captains and the mighty, and of the horses and their riders – eat the flesh of both slave and free, great and small.”
19Then I saw the beast and the kings of earth gathering their armies for war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20The beast was taken captive along with the false prophet who had in its presence performed all the signs through which he deceived those who had been given the mark of the beast, and those who worshiped the beast’s image. They were all thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21The rest were killed by the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse. And all the birds engorged themselves with their flesh.
Commentary
1-8: Now there is a loud crescendo of voices praising God for judging the great prostitute and avenging the saints. They exult in her destruction and proclaim that the smoke from the fire that destroyed her would never die down. The twenty-four elders and four living creatures fall and worship. The voice from the throne summons the huge multitude of the saved to praise God, and John hears their voices crying “Hallelujah!” They rejoice in God’s reign and proclaim that the time for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride, “granted to wear fine linen, bright and pure,” is getting ready for the event. The linen gown represents the “sacred work of the saints.” I don’t want to go too far with my speculations, but I believe the bride is the Church.
9-10: The angel in verse 9 is apparently the same one mentioned in 17:1; one of the seven angels of the bowls of wrath. He orders John to write down the blessing for those who receive an invitation to attend the wedding. John instinctively falls to worship the angel but is told not to do so. “Worship God!” the angel cries.
11-16: A white horse appears at the gates of heaven with a rider called Faithful and True. One cannot help but wonder if this is the same as the earlier white horse and rider sent out to conquer (6:2). The difference here is that the rider is clearly Christ himself, for his robe is dipped in blood and his name is “God’s Word”. He is followed by the armies of heaven dressed in white to denote their purity as well. A two-edged sword comes from his mouth, recalling the description of Christ in 1:17. The image of the treading of the winepress is that the enemies of Christ must drink the wine of God’s judgment.
17-21: The angel of the sun summons the birds to a feast (compare Ezekiel 39:17-19). The armies of heaven destroy the army of the beast. In verse 20 the beast is accompanied by the false prophet who deceived on the beast’s behalf those who received his mark on their foreheads. Perhaps the interpretation of this scene is that the beast now represents Satan (an identity established earlier) and his prophet represents the emperor Nero or another persecutor of the Church. They are thrown into “the lake of fire,” only one of the images of hell we can find in the Bible, but the one that seems to have most captured the popular imagination. As for the armies of the beast, their bodies are left on the field of battle for the birds to devour. Not a pretty picture.
Takeaway
Evil is strong, but good is stronger. Wickedness is powerful, but gentleness is greater. Hate is all-consuming, but love overcomes it.