The Lord Coming To Deliver And Defeat…
Revelation 19:11 – “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.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him”
Revelation 19:11
“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.”
See also:
Revelation 1:7
“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”
In the above two texts we see the same event being described. Both of them help to interpret the other:
- In Rev 19:11, we find the second coming of Christ being described in the context of His coming back to judge and victoriously conquer the powers of darkness (Satan, fallen angels, Satan’s kingdom, lost mankind).
- In Rev 1:7, we find the second coming of Christ being described as a great time of sorrow and mourning for those who have opposed Him and taken part in His death (the powers of darkness). The reason for the great sorrow and mourning is found in 19:11… it is because their judgment and defeat is at hand.
In comparison to these verses, we find the second coming of Christ described as a wonderfully joyous event for those who are saved…
Revelation 7:1-4, 9-10
“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel…”
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
Folks, here we read at the second coming of Christ, the saved will be taken prior to the winds of God’s wrath falling upon the world. Once they are delivered, they are seen in the presence of the Lord, praising Him for delivering them from His wrath.
For the Christian, Christ’s second coming will be a wondrous, long awaited, joyous event. May we all encourage our hearts as we wait for that day. However, for the lost, the second coming of Christ is a very fearful and solemn event, for it is then that His wrath will be clearly displayed as He brings the powers of darkness to defeat and consigns them to an eternity of wrath and punishment for their sins.
As Christians may we share the truths of God’s Word with others motivated by two great emotions. Appreciation, knowing we have been blessed with assurance of a wonderful eternity with Christ, compassion knowing the lost are in desperate need of the truth which can lead them to Christ, their only hope for salvation.
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation:
The intent of all prophecy is to reveal Christ to us!
Revelation 19:10 – “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Revelation 19:11-21 “The Great Battle Of The Lord”
THE TEXT:
Revelation 19:11-21
(11) 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.
(12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
(13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
(14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
(15) 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.
(16) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
(17) 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;
(18) 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.
(19) 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.
(20) 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.
(21) 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.
THE INTRODUCTION:
In chapters 17: and 18: we took a step back and reviewed the identity and characteristics of Satan’s kingdom, the Great Whore, along with warnings given by God to separate ourselves from her by opposing her deceptive enticements. This two chapter look at the Whore ended with a Mighty Angel picturing her absolute defeat and abolishment from the earth, by casting a huge millstone into the sea and watching it sink into oblivion. This brings an end to seal #7.
Immediately following seal #7 being revealed (which we have seen in great detail in previous chapters of Revelation 16-18, we are now shown the contents of this sealed book. The contents of the sealed book will reveal what the saints have awaiting them in eternity with Christ. The contents of the sealed book will be revealed to us in chapters 19-22. This will bring to completion our study of the Revelation.
A very basic outline of the remaining chapters of Revelation includes:
- Rev 19 – What immediately precedes eternity with the Lord?
- Rev 20 – The opening stage of eternity with the Lord (1000 year reign – a time of judgment)
- Rev 21 – The subsequent stage of eternity with the Lord pictured as a great city
- Rev 22 – The subsequent stage of eternity with the Lord pictured as Eden restored
In the chapter before us, we use a very simple outline:
- Rev 19:1-6 – The Lord praised for His great victory over the powers of darkness
- Rev 19:7-10 – The Lord’s relationship to His people – (The Marriage of the Lamb)
- Rev 19:11-21 – The Lord’s relationship to the lost – (Battle of Armegeddon)
In Revelation 19: – we can see the appearance of Christ in heaven as He returns with His saints. Throughout several chapters of Revelation 7:-18: we have seen what will take place during his second coming:
- He will take up His people who are living on the earth and take up the bodies of the saints who have previously died. He will give them prepare them to spend any eternity with Him, including giving them glorified bodies.
- He will send His wrath against lost mankind, the political and religious kingdom of Satan, the fallen angels and Satan Himself. The wrath that falls will result in their utter, permanent defeat and consignment to eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire.
- He will renovate the existing heavens and earth, making them sin-free and equip them to exist eternally as the home of Him and His people.
All of these events were previously revealed in detail in Revelation. In this chapter we can see these same events symbolized in summary fashion…
The Lord Praised for His Defeat of the Powers of Darkness Rev 19:1-6:
The Marriage Of The Lamb (Preparation of God’s People For Eternity) Rev 19:7-10:
The Symbolism Of Rev 19:7-10: – We saw preparation of God’s people initiating eternity with the Lord. This was pictured as a marriage, the inaugural ceremony for living a life of closeness and intimacy with our spouse.
The Symbolism Of Rev 19:7-10 Interpreted – This marital symbolism taught us about the saint’s separation from the lost, their unification as one assembly and the glorification of their sinful bodies. It is these events which then prepare the saints to spend eternity with Christ.
The Eternal Relation Of Christ With His People As Symbolized In Rev 19:7-10 – This marriage symbolism emphasizes the purity and intimacy of the eternal relationship that is had between Christ and His people.
The War Against The Powers Of Darkness (Preparing the Satan, Demons, and the Lost For Eternity) Rev 19:11-21:
The Symbolism Of Rev 19:11-21: – This preparation is made up of a symbolic war between Christ and the powers of darkness leading to their final absolute defeat.
The Symbolism Of Rev 19:11-21 Interpreted: – This was accomplished with the completion of the God’s wrath which fell upon mankind at His second coming… symbolized by seal #7, trumpets 1-7 and vials 1-7.
The Eternal Relation Of Christ With Lost Mankind As Symbolized In Rev 19:11-21: – This war symbolizes for us that Christ’s relation to the powers of darkness will be that of a King who has gained an absolute victory over the lost permanently reigning over them. The lost will abide in eternal torment, never to rise again, being the vanquished foe.
THE EXPOSITORY STUDY:
Revelation 19:11-21
(11) And I saw heaven opened,
Following viewing the Marriage of the Lamb, John’s attention is now turned to Christ returning from heaven at His second coming. This will help us to understand what has happened in preparation of the Lord ruling over the lost in the Lake of Fire for an eternity.
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.
(12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
(13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
(14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
(15) 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.
(16) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
In this text, Christ is given six titles which teach us about His character:
- vs 11 – “Faithful” at His second coming and the defeat of the powers of darkness, He is fulfilling many promises.
- vs 11 – “True” reveals He is not deceitful, nor secretive, He is very open and transparent. He has nothing to hide.
- vs 13 – “The Word Of God” – He reveals the mind of God to man.
- vs 16 – “King Of Kings” – He is the One with the ultimate authority over those who hold authority.
- vs 16 – “Lord Of Lord” – He possesses the absolute control over those that control others.
- vs 12 – “A Name No One Knew” – His greatness cannot be totally understood
Now, we see truths about Christ revealed in six actions…
- vs 11 – appears on a “white horse”. The color white shows us His wisdom and purity. Riding upon a horse reveals His His power, speed and authority.
- vs 11 – “in righteousness he doth judge” – He judges others in a lawful, just, way that pleases God
- vs 11 – “in righteousness he doth… make war” – He makes war in a lawful, just, way that pleases God
- vs 15 – “smite the nations” – He strikes out in punishment against the nations of the world
- vs 15 – “rule them with a rod of iron” – He exercises unbreakable authority over the nations of the world
- vs 16 – “treadeth winepress of His fierceness and wrath” – He exercises His passionate vengeance by trampling down those that oppose Him.
Christ’s physical appearance is described by John:
- vs 12 – “His eyes were as a flame of fire” – Everything is revealed in Christ’s sight and will be brought to judgement
- vs 12 – “on His head were many crowns” – He holds rulership in every area of the world, praised by all mankind.
- vs 13 – “clothed … in blood” – His shed blood on cross and/or the blood of His enemies as He brings them to defeat.
- vs 15 – “out of his mouth…sword” – the Lord’s Word defeats lost and cuts into men convicting them of sin.
- vs 16 – “And he hath … LORD OF LORDS.” – Lord’s robe and thigh with His name, publically (robe) and secretly (thigh) the Lord’s title of King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Now, some recognize Him as King and Lord while others do not. But at His second coming it will clearly be revealed to all.
At Christ’s second coming, He will be accompanied with His saints. They are described as:
- “following Him” – The Lord is their leader and the captain of their lives. They simply follow Christ as their Lord.
- “upon white horses” –Their power, purity and authority granted to them by Christ.
- “clothed in fine linen, white and clean” – The saints have received the righteousness of Christ leading to their purity Their glorified bodies could be in view here. Compare this to clothing of bride in Rev 19:8.
Other verses that teach at Christ’s second coming He will be accompanied by believers include – Psa 149:5-9, Jude 14-15, 1 Thess 3:13,
In verses 11c-16 we have seen Christ descending from heaven at His second coming. He is described in great symbolic detail which helps us to understand the greatness of His person and His works. Then we see following Him, His people returning with Him on that great day, prepared to spend eternity with Him.
Our attention is now turned to the Battle that is fought by Christ as He returns to the earth. Again, this symbolizes, in summary fashion, what we have seen in seal #7… Christ’s wrath being poured out against lost mankind which was detailed in Rev 7-18…
(17) And I saw an angel standing in the sun;
Here we see one of God’s angel, delivering a message from God. The “sun” can easily symbolize God who “in Him is light… no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5, Psa 84:11, Isa 60:19, Rev 21:23).
The angel is standing in the sun which reminds us of the angel standing in front of God, standing between God and the fallen world, acting as God’s representative to them.
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;
The angel then cries out to the flying fowls of the sinful earth. He will be inviting them to eat of the remains of the defeated lost.
This symbolism is taken from Ezekiel 39:17-20, Isa 66:24, Zeph 1:7
(18) 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.
The Lord’s victory would affect all types of lost men and animals:
- the flesh of kings – ultimate authority holders
- the flesh of captains – commanders of 1000s,
the flesh of mighty men – those physically strong
- and the flesh of horses – animals used in war
- them that sit on them – soldiers
- the flesh of all men – all lost mankind
- free and bond – masters, slaves
- small and great – despised and respected men
(19) 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.
Those fighting against the Lord include:
- the beast – the kingdoms of the world
- the kings of the earth – the leaders of those kingdoms
- their armies – the armies representing those kingdoms
All of these are united in goal and assembled to go to war against the Lord and His saints. This is a very clear symbolic representation of the Lord’s enemies that are united against Him, His work and His people. Please notice the past tense of “gathered”. These were gathered together prior to His coming. At the time of His coming, John sees this gathered group ripe for defeat at His hands.
Throughout history a spiritual war has been taking place and at his second coming, He will defeat them and bring an end to their opposition…
(20) 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.
The results of Christ’s wrath falling at His coming is complete and utter destruction of His enemies, along with permanent consignment to the Lake of Fire; which sets the stage for eternity to begin.
Both the political powers of Satan (the beast) and the religious powers of Satan (the false prophet who worked deceitful miracles that misled lost mankind) are brought to absolute defeat. What is their end? It is “The Lake of Fire burning with brimstone”, the place of eternal torment and separation from the presence of Almighty God.
See Daniel 7:21-28, Joel 3:2,9-17
(21) And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth:
Not only do Satan’s kingdoms suffer eternal defeat and punishment at the hands of Almighty God, Christ, but also those who remain (the remaining lost men on earth).
How is this defeat brought about? Simply by the use of the words of the Lord. The words of the Lord are very powerful. He simply spoke the world into existence (Gen 1:3,6,9 etc) and He spoke life into the dead (John 11:43)… how easy it would be to simply speak His enemies out of existence as He calls fire from heaven to devour His enemies…
2 Peter 3:7-13 – “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men… But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
(see also 2 Thess 1:8-9, Psa 50:3 , Hebs 12:29)
and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Keep in mind, those who die, remain unburied, and are eaten by birds is a symbol of outstanding shame and dishonor in Bible days. (Isa 56:9-12, Jer 12:9, Isa 34:2-3). It is a picture of those who are not loved, respected, and friendless. In many cases, the corpse of a criminal was not buried but left for the animals to eat. ( Deut 28:26, Psa 79:2, Eccl 6:3, Isa 14:19, Jer 7:33, 9:22, 16:4, 16:6, 25:33, 34:20 etc)
CHRIST REVEALED:
In this text, Christ is revealed as the victorious, returning, King and Lord. His great authority and strength is emphasized as He leads His people and gains victory over all the powers of darkness.
Romans 14:11-12 – “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.“
Philippians 2:10-11 – “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION (SUMMARY)
No matter how things may appear, we need to always remember our Lord is the Ultimate Authority Holder and Almighty One. Based upon His faithful, successful, completed work on the cross, He now sits as Lord over all. He is, and always will be in control. May we all be like Nebuchadnezzar, who came to understand this very important and comforting truth…
Daniel 4:34-35 – “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”
Revelation 19:10
“And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
The “testimony” (evidence, profession) of Jesus is the “spirit” (vital principle, motivating force, intent) of prophecy. Folks the main overriding goal of prophecy is not to reveal future events. It is to reveal Christ.
This same truth is emphasized in Rev 1:1 when John gives his book the title “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”. In other words, this book is the uncovering, or revealing of Jesus Christ. Not only is the uncovering of Christ the core purpose behind the book of Revelation, baut also every prophecy found in the Bible. As verse 19:10 states, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit” of every prophetic message.
Peter teaches us that the profession of Christ is the central theme of all the prophets messages throughout God’s Word…
1 Peter 1:9-12 – “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”
Folks, when we grasp this very important principle about Biblical prophecy it will revolutionize our understanding of the prophecy. To properly benefit from any Biblical prophecy, we must ask ourselves “What can I learn about Christ from this prophecy?” If we are content learning of an event that is yet to come, without learning more about Christ, we are missing the intent of that prophecy and greatly diminishing its value to us.
May we all learn more about Christ as we study the many prophecies found in His Word.
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation:
The Angels of God Will Enjoy Eternity With Us!
Revelation 19:9 – “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.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
Revelation 19:9 – “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.”
In Matthew 22:1-14, we find a parable that was taught by Christ and commonly called the “Parable of the Wedding Feast”. In this parable, we read about a King preparing the wedding celebration for his son. A part of that celebration would be a great dinner to which many guests were invited. Great dinners incorporated within the marriage ceremony were a very common occurrence in New Testament times.
Here in Rev 19:9, the guests who are invited to the great dinner which was a part of the symbolic marriage of the Lamb, are described by the phrase “they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb” (the Son of God). What is the symbolic importance of these invited ones?
Keep mind… Christ, the groom is being united with His people (those who have come to a saving faith in Him), the bride. Their marriage is representative of their intimate communion that they will enjoy throughout eternity. The guests who are invited to observe their relationship are the angels of God, who will exist with Christ and His people in eternity.
These “elect” angels are truly “blessed”, for they were protected and granted faithfulness by the Lord while the other angels (fallen angels, demons) fell in disgrace and shared in the ultimate defeat with Satan and His kingdoms (2 Pet 2:4, Jude 1:6).
What will these elect angels be doing throughout eternity? Although the Bible has little to say on this subject, perhaps their acts of service prior to eternity will continue on into eternity. If this is the case then their basic role will be two-fold…
- they will be serving the Lord, by continuing to minister to the needs of His people. (Hebrews 1:14)
- they will continue to learn about the gracious workings of the Lord and His relationship with His people. (1 Pet 1:10-12) They will do this by assembling with the people of God and joining them in acts of worship and praise (Eph 3:10-11). This is also implied in 1 Cor 11:10, where the women are encouraged to have their head properly covered so that the angels might learn about the differing levels of authority when men are assembled to worship etc.
What a blessing it is to know that the Lord will invite His elect angels to be with us throughout eternity. Perhaps, they will be continuing to meet our needs while learning more about the Lord and all the great things He has done for us as we live together with Him!
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation:
Are We Dressed For The Wedding?
Revelation 19:8 – “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.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “fine linen, clean and white:”
Revelation 19:8 – “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.”
The fine linen, given to the saints of God at the Lord’s second coming, is described as “the righteousness of the saints”. In other words, this clean white linen is a picture of the saint’s right standing before the Lord.
Due to their righteous standing before the Lord, the saint can stand before Him cleansed without the filth of sin and the dirt of rebellion upon him. God can look upon the saint as being clean, pure, and without sin in His sight. This is why this symbolic linen is described as being white and clean.
The righteousness that we possess as we stand before God has a two-fold origin. First of all, we are told this righteousness flows from the work of Christ on the cross, and is a gift given to man by God that cannot be obtained through man’s good works. It is entirely a gift of God’s grace, and is given the title IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS. This simply means it is righteousness that is placed upon the account of sinful man. …
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Titus 3:4-7 – “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
This is a very important aspect of righteousness in the life of the Christian. This type of righteousness which is placed on the believer’s account is received at the moment of salvation and is eternally permanent in nature. This righteousness SECURES OUR ENTRANCE INTO ETERNITY with Christ.
However, there is another aspect to the fine linen garments of righteousness for the believer. Please note in Rev 19:7 we are told that “His wife hath MADE HERSELF ready”. This is speaking of the wife clothing herself in the linen of righteousness. This is describing the second aspect of a believer’s righteousness, EXPERIENTIAL RIGHTEOUSNESS..
Romans 13:12-14 – “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
Here, we find the believer commanded to lead a holy life is told to “put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ”. In the Greek language, to “put on” means “to clothe oneself.” Yes, the Godly works of the saints are pictured here as the clothing of Christ. Just as sin is pictured by dirt and filth that needs to be cleansed from off of us (Rev 22:11).
The Lord has made it abundantly plain that He desired for His people to remain unspotted from sin as they eagerly await His coming (in doing so they are SECURING REWARDS for themselves)…
2 Peter 3:11-14 – “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
1 John 3:2-3 – “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
Although these two types of righteousness may seem to contradict one another (one refers to righteousness obtained through grace alone, while the other involves works of righteousness on behalf of believers), but really they go hand in hand. We are graced with imputed righteousness so that we may seek experiential righteous in our lives. The Lord saves us TO serve Him. As a matter of fact, if we have undergone a genuine work of grace in our hearts, we are changed and we WILL serve Him as the result If our life never changed after our “salvation” experience, it is proof positive we have never really been saved through His divine intervention in our lives …
Ephesians 2:10 – ”For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Romans 12:1 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
May we all faithfully serve Him as we eagerly await His second coming and the wonderful rewards awaiting us!
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation:
Our Marriage To Christ: Dwelling With Him Throughout Eternity…
Revelation 19:7 – “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.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “The Marriage Of The Lamb”
Revelation 19:7 – “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.”
Here, we find the inaugural phase of the Lord dwelling with His people throughout eternity symbolized by a marriage. Christ, the Lamb is said to marry His bride, all of those who are saved from both Old and New Testament times.
This same group of believers is described in Hebrews 12:22-23….
Hebrews 12:22-23 – “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,”
Here, His bride is described as:
- “the general assembly” – contains believers from throughout history made up of all nationalities, languages, genders, ages economic and social status. It is truly a “general” assembly! (Rev 7:9)
- “the church of the firstborn” – they are the assembly that is possessed and formed by Jesus Christ, the firstborn among many. (Romans 8:29)
- those which are “written in heaven”. – They are citizens of Heaven with their names on heavens rolls. (Phils 3:20)
When we enter into eternity with the Lord, it will be like a marriage. This is much like an engaged couple who enjoys a much more intimate relationship following their marriage. Although we enjoy communion with the Lord now while on earth, we will enjoy a greater, closer, fuller relationship with Him throughout eternity…
1 Corinthians 13:12 – “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
What a wonderful day that will be! When we enter eternity in the presence of our Lord and experience a new type of existence that goes beyond our understanding and imagination!
1 Corinthians 2:9 – “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
May we all praise and honor our Lord by living lives faithful to Him as we patiently wait for that great day.
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation:
“Praise the Lord!”…. Make Him Shine In The Eyes Of Others!
Revelation 19:1 – 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 the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “Alleluia”
Revelation 19:1
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:
We frequently hear, and use, the term Alleluia (or Hallelujah). But what does this term actually mean?
This Greek word comes from a phrase that is made up of two Hebrew words (Halal & Yahh). This phrase is normally translated “Praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:1 etc)…
- “Halal” means “to make shine”, “to boast”, “to draw attention to”, or “to rave about”
- “Yahh” is a contraction of the Hebrew word Jehovah, which is the personal name for the True Lord.
If we put all of this together, we can see that when we say the word “Alleluia”, we are attempting to draw all the attention to our God, Jehovah. We are wanting to make Him shine in the eyes of others. We are desirous to boast about the Lord, the greatness of His person and the perfection of His workings among men. In other words, we are “raving” about Him…
Psalms 150:2 – “Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.”
All of this implies a very humble attitude on the part of the speaker. We are saying. “I am nothing, my Lord is everything. I want you to take all of your attention off of me and concentrate entirely upon my Lord”. This is the implications and intent of the use of “Alleluia”…
Psalms 34:2-3 – “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
Folks, when we use the term “Hallelujah” are we centered upon the Lord and humbly desirous for all the attention of others be placed upon Him? Are we sincerely declaring His greatness and His glorious workings among men? Are we putting ourselves down as we are exalted Him as highly as we can?
Or, are we using it flippantly, simply as another exclamatory term among many such as “wow”, “fantastic” or “isn’t that wonderful”? The term was never meant to be used in this type of frivolous way. The very meaning of the term, and its usage in the Bible, clearly shows us that it was ALWAYS meant to be used in a very reverent, sincere, humble manner that points all of our attention, and the attention of others, to our wonderful Lord alone.
May the Lord bless us as we attempt to use this glorious term of praise in the way in which it was intended to be used.
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation:
Are You Under The “Spell” Of False Religions….
Rev 18:23 – “And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”
Rev 18:23 – “And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”
Whenever I read this verse, I get a picture in my mind of a group of old women sitting around a boiling pot, casting a spell on those around them. Is that what this verse means? Is it saying that the false religions of the world use spells and enchantments to get people to follow them?
The key to understanding this text is found in the understanding of the word “sorceries”. The Greek word translated “sorceries” is the word from which we get our English word “pharmaceuticals”. The word describes things that drugs, potions, cures, enchantments, and/or mixtures. The word originates from two words… one that means “to perform magic”, the other word means “to poison” or “to be sacrificed”.
Basically, when we are told that the false religions of the world use sorceries to mislead others to follow them, the Bible is telling us that the false religions of the world use ”poisonous recipes” to “miraculously enchant” people to willfully bring about their own destruction. WOW!
When we look at it from this perspective, it is much easier to understand what truths are being given to John:
1. The false religions of the world are enabled by Satan to perform works that transcend nature. In that sense, the false religions can work “miracles”.
Folks, we are in a spiritual warfare against powers that are far stronger than ourselves. To gain the victory, it must be done through the gracious enabling of Christ, or else we are doomed to certain defeat.
2Co 10:4 – “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”
2. The false religions of the world use a “recipe” of methods to delude those who follow them.
From the use of unscriptural doctrine, ungodly traditions, counterfeit miracles, false promises etc etc. they seduce others to follow them.
2Co 2:11 – “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
3. The false religions of the world provide to mankind “poison” that will gradually bring to them corruption into their physical life and eternal ruin in the life to come.
Although they will promise great blessings and prosperity, the actual fruits of their ministry is only sin, ruin and death.
Mat 7:15-20 – “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
May we all come to understand the great dangers that lie in Satan’s “sorceries” meted out by the false religions of the world and may we always be on guard against them.
1Pe 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation:
Revelation 19:1-10 “The Marriage Of The Lamb”
THE TEXT:
Rev 19:1-10
(1) 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:
(2) 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.
(3) And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
(4) And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
(5) And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
(6) And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
(7) 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.
(8) 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.
(9) 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.
(10) And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
THE INTRODUCTION:
In chapters 17: and 18: we took a step back and reviewed the identity and characteristics of Satan’s religious kingdom, the Great Whore, along with warnings given by God to separate ourselves from her by opposing her deceptive enticements. This two chapter look at the Whore ended with a Mighty Angel picturing her absolute defeat and abolishment from the earth, by casting a huge millstone into the sea and watching it sink into oblivion. This brings an end to seal #7.
Immediately following seal #7 being revealed (which we have seen in great detail in previous chapters of Revelation 16-18, we are now shown the contents of this sealed book. The contents of the sealed book will reveal what the saints have awaiting them in eternity with Christ. The contents of the sealed book will be revealed to us in chapters 19-22. This will bring to completion our study of the Revelation.
A very basic outline of the remaining chapters of Revelation includes:
- Rev 19 – What immediately precedes eternity with the Lord?
- Rev 20 – The opening stage of eternity with the Lord (1000 year reign – a time of judgment)
- Rev 21 – The subsequent stage of eternity with the Lord pictured as a great city
- Rev 22 – The subsequent stage of eternity with the Lord pictured as Eden restored
In the chapter before us, we use a very simple outline:
- Rev 19:1-6 – The Lord praised for His great victory over the powers of darkness
- Rev 19:7-10 – The Lord’s relationship to His people – (The Marriage of the Lamb)
- Rev 19:11-21 – The Lord’s relationship to the lost – (Battle of Armegeddon)
THE EXPOSITORY STUDY:
Rev 19:1-10
(1) 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:
Following the Lord’s defeat of the religious powers of Satan (Rev 18:21-24), His people in heaven praise Him for His great victory. Their praise consists of:
Alleluia – Praise the Lord! (make Him shine with our lives and voices)
- Salvation – Praise for deliverance from the powers of Satan’s Kingdom
- Glory – Praise for the dignity and attention that He deserves
- Honour – Praise for the His great value
- Power – Praise Him for His strength and authority
All these areas of praise belongs to…
“Unto the Lord our God” – the One who is their Master and the One who deserves all their allegiance and worship.
(2) 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.
Some reasons why praise belongs to the Lord alone is given to us:
- The sinless nature of His judgments – His judgments are described as being “true” (honest, sincere, not deceptive) and “righteous” (perfect, sinless, aligned with God’s laws).
- His judgment of the false religions of this world – The Holy, Just Lord cannot allow sin to escape punishment.
- His retaliation of the murders of His people – The Lord is faithful to His Word and His Promises shown by His avenging of the martyrdom of His people.
(3) And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
The people of God praise Him as they fully agree with the reasons for His deserving of their praise is set forth.
(4) And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
The 24 elders and the 4 beasts (both symbolic of different aspects of heavenly saints) now are seen falling down an worshipping God for His greatness and His sovereignty that allowed Christ to reign over all. Before John HEARD these same saints praising the Lamb with their voices…. Now John SEES them as they worship the Lord God Almighty.
They worship Him by showing their submission to His will and ways (“fell down”) and they praise Him with the voices (“worshipped… saying”). Their message? “So be it” (“Amen” – accepting of His plan and the glorious results of it found in the victory of Christ over the Whore) and “Alleluia” (“Praise the Lord” – praising Him for His great control over all)
(5) And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
John hears a voice from the throne of God, probably God Himself, commanding His people to praise Him. He describes His people as “ye his servants” and “ye that fear him”, two attributes of those who are truly saved. He continues by reminding us that His people are made up of people of all social and economic levels, “both small and great”.
(6) And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Once again John hears the people of God responding to God’s command in unison, praising God for His sovereignty. The greatness of the combined praise is described as “the voice of a great multitude”, “the voice of many waters”, “and “the voice of mighty thunderings.”
Babylon’s defeat (17:1-19:5) and the eternal salvation of God’s people (19:7-10) are the direct result of God’s sovereignty.
(7) 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.
Following the praise given to God for His sovereign victory over all paving the way for the saints to enjoy eternity with Him, we find the saints preparing themselves to spend eternity with God. It is as if we are experiencing a time of espousal now… we are Christ’s and promises to enjoy perfect, everlasting, communion with Him. We still have not experienced our ultimate union with Him but, at His second coming, we will enter into this perfect type of communion with Him in His presence.
John now sees a vision that will describe how eternity will affect the people of God. In this text, eternity with God is symbolized as a marriage which initiates the husband’s and wife’s cohabitation and life together. Following Christ’s victory, the saints now prepare themselves for living an eternity with Christ, much like a bride prepares herself for her wedding.
Let us…
1. “be glad and rejoice” – be cheerful and jump for joy… eternity with the Lord has come!
2.“give honor to Him” – give Him all the credit and glory for what He has done for us
3 “for the marriage of the Lamb is come” – the most personal, intimate relationship between God and His people is ready to be experienced.
4. “his wife hath made herself ready” – the saints are now eagerly awaiting the moment they will enter eternity with the Lord.
A prophecy found in Hosea 2:14-20 shows us God entering eternity with His people as a wedding.
We are responsible to prepare ourselves for this eternal union with Christ by living chaste, faithful lives before He comes (2 Cor 11:2, 1 John 3:2-3, 1 Cor 3:12-14, 2 Cor 7:1, Eoh 5:25-27.
Note Isa 49:18 – “Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.”
Eze 16:10-14 – “I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.”
Is Bride the local assembly or all believers?
The apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:15-32 also uses the symbol of a wedding to describe Christ’s special relationship to members of His local assemblies at His second coming. Why? Because, church membership is a mark of those who are truly saved…
Paul gives us a further understanding of this in 1 Cor 6:16-18…. Joining to harlot is not a marriage, it is simply an outward display that some type of union has been made. Likewise, joining to the Lord’s assemblies is not a marriage, but an outward declaration we are all in unity with the Lord. Therefore, do not join with harlot.
Also, it is important to remember that, when we enter into eternity we will be looked upon as “one glorious assembly” prepared to be with Christ! (Eph 5:27, Hebs 12:23). While on earth, we are members of different distinct assemblies but at the rapture on the truly saved will become members of “the church of the firstborn (saved)” who are prepared to enter eternity with Him as His bride.
(8) 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.
For the saints to be prepared for His coming is a matter of our responsibility and the Lord’s graciously supplies (Eph 2:8-10, Phil 2:12-13, Rom 1:17). Here, we look at the Lord’s grace in these things by supplying wedding garments to His bride.
These include clothing:
- “of fine linen” – expensive, carefully made, high quality linen
- “clean and white” – pure, sinless, not dirtied. Bright etc.
- “righteousness of saints” – the righteousness of Christ placed upon the believer in conjunction with the righteous works of the saints as they serve Christ following salvation.
This includes both imputed righteousness of Christ (placed upon the account of the saint – Roms 3:22, Zech 3:4, Isa 61:10) and the experiential righteousness of the saints (gained through works of obedience to Christ – Roms 13:14, ). These do not contradict themselves because those who have been clothed in Christ’s righteousness will experience a change of lifestyle that will include serving Him and remaining faithful to Him until death.
It could be that this wedding “clothing” is, in actuality, the righteousness of Christ displayed in believer’s as their glorified bodies 2 Cor 5:1-4, (see Mat 17:2, Mrk 9:3 – On the mount of Transfiguration, Christ is seen in this vision in His glorified body)
(9) 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.
We have an additional group that is being described besides the bride and groom… “they which are called unto the marriage of the Lamb”. In other words, we are talking about invited guests (Lk 14:15-24).
If Christ is symbolically the groom and all who are saved are symbolically make up the bride, then who are these guests that are invited but are not parties in the wedding? It is the angels of God. They will be present to witness Christ and the saved being joined together throughout eternity. They will enjoy seeing these blessings come to God’s people, just as they are joyful at their salvation… Luke 15:10
The angel then affirms to John that, although the wedding is such a wonderful blessing upon God’s people, that it seems as if it is unbelievable, it is true. It is a certainty, God’s people will be blessed with clothes of righteousness (glorified bodies?) and be united with Christ for an eternity.
(10) And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
At the affirmation of these great blessings, John bows down to this angel ready to worship him. The angel then reminds John that he is simply another servant of the Lord, just as was John and his brothers in Christ. They all are working towards the same goal of glorifying the Lord by keeping His commands and delivering His message to the world.
worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The angel then reminds John that worship is to be reserved for God alone (in His three persons). Also, he reminds John of the purpose behind this revelation (made up of several visions) from God. It was not to glorify, honor, or bring worship to the angels…. it is to reveal Christ to the world. That is the true “spirit” (goal, purpose, thrust) of the entire set of visions he has received.
CHRIST REVEALED:
In this text, we find Christ presented as the Divine Groom who will unite eternally with His Bride, those whom have been redeemed by His blood. This is the Christian’s entrance into eternity being clothed with glorified bodies and accepted into His presence for an eternity.
1 Th 4:16-18 – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Corinthians 15:51 – “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION (SUMMARY)
Rev 19:10 – “worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Folks, I believe this is, perhaps, one of the most important texts found within the pages of the Revelation. It clearly defines the purpose and goals of this book…. It is to testify of Jesus Christ. (Just as the introductory portion of the book clearly tells us this is the “revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1)).
Its first concern is not to show us prophecy of the coming events of this world, nor it is given to reveal who the next “anti-christ” will be, nor is it given to define “the mark of the beast” etc etc etc….
It is given to show us Christ and bring to Him all the honor and glory that He deserves. May we all learn to properly approach Revelation looking for Christ, and truths about Him, within its pages. When we do this, the other truths found in His Word will reveal themselves to us as added benefits.
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The Disappearace Of The Beast!
Rev 18:21 – “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea”
Rev 18:21 – “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.”
The mighty angel in John’s vision illustrates the catastrophic downfall of Satan’s religious kingdom by throwing a millstone into the sea. As it sinks to the bottom, totally disappearing from sight, the angel says…
“Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.”
Folks, not only does a gracious God defeat the religious powers of Satan, casting them into the deepest parts of the sea; but, He also mercifully forgives us from our sins, casting them into the depths of the sea as well…
Mic 7:18-19 – “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”
When the Lord speaks of casting “all their sins into the depths of the sea”, He is speaking symbolically concerning sins ETERNAL effects on the children of God.
He is pointing out that they are symbolically, placed out of God’s view forever… no longer will the saved be called into account for his sins, no longer will the saved face the eternal wrath for those sins…
Isa 43:25 – “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
It is impossible for a Holy God to simply “forget about” sin and let sin go unpunished…
Hab 1:13 – “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”
The only way that God can forget about our sins is by punishing another. That “another” is the Lord Jesus Christ. On the cross of Christ, God received payment for the sins of His people by punishing Christ on our behalf. The result of Christ’s payment is the declaration of innocence placed on the people of God, this is called being “justified” and it takes place when a person places faith in Jesus as His Savior…
Rom 5:1-2 – “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Not only does faith in Christ give us access to this declaration of innocence (justification), but also gives us assurance that we will live with God eternally, in glorified bodies that have been purified of sin.
A Holy God, punished His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for the sins of His people. This took place based upon the wondrous love and willingness of Christ to receive that punishment as He hung on the cross of Calvary. Now, by turning from our sins and placing our faith in Jesus, we are given access to the forgiveness of God and a glorious future with Him.
Folks, for those of us who are saved, our sins will never stand between us and our God… they have been cast into the depths of the sea! May we appreciate, love and praise Him with our lives for all He has done for us.
If you have never sorrowfully turned from your sins to Christ as our Lord man Savior, I trust you do so today. The Lord is patiently waiting for His people to come to Him and receive these wonderful gifts He has prepared for them!
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation:
Rejoice…. Satan has been defeated!
Rev 18:20 – “Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “Rejoice over her”
Rev 18:20 – “Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.”
In John’s vision, he hears the saints of God (ye holy apostles and prophets) to rejoice over Mystery Babylon’s defeat. Keep in mind, the defeat of Mystery Babylon involves the total destruction of the false religions of the world and those who were a part of them.
What would be the basis of this rejoicing?
- Most importantly…God was keeping His promise to avenge the abuse of His people.
- God’s glorious person was displayed (His Strength, Holiness, Justice, Faithfulness, etc etc)
- Satan and his kingdoms are defeated and rendered helpless
- Sin has been eradicated from the Earth
Yes, there will be much reason for our rejoicing at the defeat of Satan’s kingdom.
The above list helps us to understand the basic intent behind verses such as Psa 58:10…
“The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.”
The righteous are not merciless people who enjoy seeing the great suffering of the lost. On the contrary, they are people who are rejoicing because their God has won the victory over wickedness, eradicating it from the earth, revealing His great attributes, and avenging the abuse of His people.
They are rejoicing because their Lord has been glorified and honored as He should, only receiving what is His due, which fulfills the greatest desire that exists in the hearts of His people…
1Pe 4:13 – “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation:
Settled In Heaven Blog 