Revelation is one of the most difficult books in the Bible for me to understand. Even though I am at a loss when it comes to interpreting many of the passages, the big-picture message is one I fully appreciate.
Two major messages should be heard loud and clear by readers of Revelation.
(1) From the beginning of the book to the end, God’s people are encouraged to remain faithful to their Lord and Savior.
Whether we live in relative luxury or endure persecution, followers of Jesus must fully follow the One who died and rose again for our redemption.
God has a magnificent reward for faithful followers of Jesus.
(2) Satan is deceptive and strives to entice humans to succumb to his temptations.
Satan is destined for destruction and his followers will join him if they do not repent.
When every act of deception or intimidation fails, evil powers resort to war. It is never a good idea to go to war against God, as Revelation 19 shows.
The Great War
Satan started the war, but Jesus will finish it. John saw in a vision what Satan and his followers will ultimately experience.
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and wages war (Revelation 19.11).
What was said earlier about God’s righteous judgment is reinforced in verse 11.
And I heard the angel of the waters say,
“You are just, O Holy One, who are and were,
for you have judged these things;
Because they shed the blood of saints and prophets,
you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!”
And I heard the altar respond,
“Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty,
your judgments are true and just!” (Revelation 16:5-7)
God is faithful to his promises and will in due time vindicate the trust of all who place their confidence in him.
The Armies of Heaven
Jesus doesn’t need any help to conquer the evil one. Nevertheless, he brings with him an army.
And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses (Revelation 19.4).
Rudy Ross in today’s video explains that “fine linen” was what the priest wore when he entered the Most Holy Place to meet with God.
God’s army doesn’t need body armor. They are clothed with lives that are defined by their relationship with God.
Returning to the central messages of Revelation, God’s followers don’t fight in the same fashion as those of the evil one. Our warfare is conducted as servants of the Lamb of God.
Isaiah explains why it is necessary for God to wage war against Satan.
But with righteousness he shall judge for the poor
and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. (Isaiah 11:4)
The end-time vision of judgment details the fate of those who have abused God’s “little ones.”
From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a scepter of iron; he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty (Revelation 19.15).
A Feast for the Birds
In contrast to the marriage supper of the Lamb, the destruction of God’s enemies will provide a feast for birds.
Then 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,
To eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and their riders—flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great” (Revelation 19.17-18).
As we consider a big-picture understanding of Revelation, let this be a warning to those who align their lives with God’s adversary.
The best choice we can make is to wear the “white linen” of people who live in a personal relationship of worship and service to the Lamb.
The battle of Armageddon has arrived. This is a great historic event that brings to an end the Antichrist and his forces and ushers in the long-awaited era of righteousness.
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army.
And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the brand of the beast and those who worshiped its image.
These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur (Revelation 19.19-20).
We should note that John provides no description of actual warfare.
The beast is the personification of secular power in its opposition to the church.
The false prophet represents the role of false religion in persuading people to worship the antichristian power.
Let this picture motivate us to align our lives with the plans and purposes of God. Let’s worship and serve our Lord and Savior.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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