Celebration in Heaven

19 After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying:

Hallelujah!(A)
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,
because His judgments are true[a] and righteous,(B)
because He has judged the notorious prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality;
and He has avenged the blood of His slaves
that was on her hands.(C)

A second time they said:

Hallelujah!
Her smoke ascends forever and ever!(D)

Then the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God,(E) who is seated on the throne, saying:

Amen! Hallelujah!(F)

A voice came from the throne, saying:

Praise our God,
all His slaves, who fear Him,
both small and great!(G)

Marriage of the Lamb Announced

Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters,(H) and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying:

Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty,
has begun to reign!
Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory,(I)
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and His wife has prepared herself.
She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.(J)

For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.(K)

Then he[b] said to me,(L) “Write: Those invited to the marriage feast(M) of the Lamb are fortunate!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.” 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow slave with you and your brothers who have the testimony about[c] Jesus.(N) Worship God, because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”[d]

The Rider on a White Horse

11 Then I saw heaven opened,(O) and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True,(P) and He judges and makes war in righteousness.(Q) 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns[e] were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself.(R) 13 He wore a robe stained with blood,[f](S) and His name is the Word of God.(T) 14 The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp[g] sword(U) came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it.(V) He will shepherd[h] them with an iron scepter.(W) He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God,(X) the Almighty. 16 And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh:

KING OF KINGS

AND LORD OF LORDS.(Y)

The Beast and His Armies Defeated

17 Then I saw an angel standing on[i] the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”(Z)

19 Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies(AA) gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against His army. 20 But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with him the false prophet, who had performed the signs in his presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image with these signs.(AB) Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.(AC) 21 The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 19:2 Valid; Jn 8:16; 19:35
  2. Revelation 19:9 Probably an angel; Rv 17:1; 22:8-9
  3. Revelation 19:10 Or to
  4. Revelation 19:10 Or the Spirit
  5. Revelation 19:12 Or diadems
  6. Revelation 19:13 Or a robe dipped in
  7. Revelation 19:15 Other mss add double-edged
  8. Revelation 19:15 Or rule
  9. Revelation 19:17 Or in

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude(A) in heaven shouting:

“Hallelujah!(B)
Salvation(C) and glory and power(D) belong to our God,
    for true and just are his judgments.(E)
He has condemned the great prostitute(F)
    who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”(G)

And again they shouted:

“Hallelujah!(H)
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”(I)

The twenty-four elders(J) and the four living creatures(K) fell down(L) and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

“Amen, Hallelujah!”(M)

Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,
    all you his servants,(N)
you who fear him,
    both great and small!”(O)

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,(P) like the roar of rushing waters(Q) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!(R)
    For our Lord God Almighty(S) reigns.(T)
Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!(U)
For the wedding of the Lamb(V) has come,
    and his bride(W) has made herself ready.
Fine linen,(X) bright and clean,
    was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts(Y) of God’s holy people.)

Then the angel said to me,(Z) “Write this:(AA) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”(AB) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”(AC)

10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him.(AD) But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!(AE) For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”(AF)

The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast

11 I saw heaven standing open(AG) and there before me was a white horse, whose rider(AH) is called Faithful and True.(AI) With justice he judges and wages war.(AJ) 12 His eyes are like blazing fire,(AK) and on his head are many crowns.(AL) He has a name written on him(AM) that no one knows but he himself.(AN) 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,(AO) and his name is the Word of God.(AP) 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen,(AQ) white(AR) and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword(AS) with which to strike down(AT) the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a](AU) He treads the winepress(AV) of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:(AW)

king of kings and lord of lords.(AX)

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds(AY) flying in midair,(AZ) “Come,(BA) gather together for the great supper of God,(BB) 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people,(BC) free and slave,(BD) great and small.”(BE)

19 Then I saw the beast(BF) and the kings of the earth(BG) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse(BH) and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet(BI) who had performed the signs(BJ) on its behalf.(BK) With these signs he had deluded(BL) those who had received the mark of the beast(BM) and worshiped its image.(BN) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake(BO) of burning sulfur.(BP) 21 The rest were killed with the sword(BQ) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,(BR) and all the birds(BS) gorged themselves on their flesh.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 19:15 Psalm 2:9