Marriage of the Lamb & A Little Armageddon

We’ve walked through the dark days of the Tribulation, but now the somber gives way to song. In Revelation 19, we turn the page from the ominous days of judgment to bright days of blessing. We walk with John in his vision to the greatest events for this earth—the second coming of Christ to establish His Kingdom on earth. This is the bridge between the Great Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom.

Hi everyone, I’m Tammy Becker.  Welcome to the Almighty God & Gospel Girl Podcast.  This is week twenty-four into our series of Revelation and our podcast today is titled: Marriage of the Lamb & A Little Armageddon.  My podcast today will be based on the reading of Revelation 19.  And if you would like to follow along with the notes or maybe you would like to find the links to anything mentioned in the podcast today, you can go to the link in the description or by visiting www.youministries.com and visiting the corresponding page.  As we get started today, I would like to remind you of my disclaimer, that as always…do not take my word, or anyone’s word for what you read…get yourself in the Bible and let God discern His Word to you.  I am only human and make many mistakes and do not claim to know or understand everything in the Bible…I just hope by bringing out this study that your interest is sparked enough to get into God’s Word and begin to deep dive on your own.

Four hallelujahs open this chapter and the opening of hell closes it. John records he heard a great voice of a mass choir in heaven saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments” (vv. 1-2).

In the worship scenes of Revelation 5–7, we saw the elders, the church, and the uncounted numbers of angels and created intelligences all worshiping God. Now more Tribulation saints have been added to the chorus, and they are going to join the song. This is the first time they have been able to utter the great Old Testament word of praise reserved for final victory—Hallelujah! (This is the only time the word is used in the New Testament.)

Hallelujah is a fitting note of praise at this transition in Revelation. The Great Tribulation is over. Jesus is coming. The church is to be united with Christ in marriage. Hallelujah!

The great day is coming when the earth will be released from the bondage of sin. In the meantime, it groans. But one day the groaning will change to hallelujahs.

At the conclusion of all these judgments, those in heaven who have more perfect knowledge than we have are able to say God’s judgments are true and right. Our perspective today is incomplete.

The church in heaven sings “hallelujah” because as long as the imposter of the true church, the great harlot, is on earth, the marriage of the Lamb will not take place in heaven. God has avenged the blood of His servants. He tells us to let Him do it, and in His time He does.

Then the 24 elders sing “hallelujah”—this is the last time we see these 24 whom we believe represent the church, because now the church becomes the bride of Christ. They will lay their crowns down and sing together the true “Hallelujah Chorus” and the most profound tribute of praise in the entire Word of God.

This wedding in heaven will include us—as believers, we are part of it—and it’ll be the most thrilling experience we’ll ever have. The church—the body of believers from Pentecost to the Rapture—are presented to Christ as a bride for a marriage. As a bride, we will reveal the Groom’s glory. We’ll be on display—sinners saved from hell, now in heaven with absolutely no right to be there except that we belong to Him and claim His righteousness as our own. This relationship between Christ and His church is intimate, different, and delightful. No other creatures will enjoy such sweetness.

After the marriage of the Lamb in heaven, the next great event is Jesus Christ’s magnificent return to the earth with His bride with Him. The marriage supper will take place on earth and ushers in the Millennium. Both Israelites and Gentiles who enter the Millennium are the invited guests.

When you read the Word of God you become conscious of Jesus Christ’s plan and program for this earth that He follows very carefully. His return to the earth is the climax of all that has happened in Revelation and is the first of seven final things John saw and recorded: Jesus’ return, Satan’s capture, Satan’s binding, the Millennium, Satan’s final end, the last judgment, and the new heavens and earth, including the New Jerusalem.

We met Jesus in the Gospel narratives first as a baby as He entered the world the first time. He was meek and lowly. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, which spoke of peace, not war. He was the Savior who died for sinners.

When heaven opened for us in Revelation 4, we saw the church already there. Now in Revelation 19, the gates of heaven open and Jesus Christ the Lord comes out, seated high on a white horse of warfare. Behind Him follow the armies of heaven, all on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen. Jesus’ eyes are a blaze of fire, out of His mouth comes a sharp sword to conquer the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He is now the judge of a sinful world, and on His head is the crown of the sole ruler of earth. On His robe, dipped in blood, and on His thigh is written, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” No one alive doesn’t tremble at the sight of Him.

If today you’ve wondered why God doesn’t deal with the evil in the world, look to this day yet future. Jesus is called “Faithful and True” because He comes to execute the long-time program of God. He is making good on God’s promises. He is inherently true, not just one who tells the truth, but who is the yardstick of truth. He is addressed as “The Word of God.”

His eyes are a flame of fire because He has come to judge the earth and put down its unrighteousness. Upon His head are many crowns; He will be the sole ruler of this earth. He is the King of Kings and He is the Lord of Lords.

The Lord Jesus is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, a picture of Him treading the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of God (see Isaiah 63:1-6). The armies of heaven—legions of angels who do His bidding—follow Him, all mounted on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen. What a scene!

Jesus also has a name that no one knows but Himself. What is the name? We will discover it in eternity, and it will take that long to really know Him. This is eternal life, to know the one, true God. And the more we know Him, the more exciting He will be. He is what makes heaven, heaven.

As Revelation ends, the Lord Jesus repeats what He said from the beginning. He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (22:13).

Oh, the name and the person of Jesus, the centerpiece of Scripture and focal point of time. How awesome and unspeakably wonderful He is! The Lamb of God slain before the world began now is lifted up in His rightful place. He has come to judge and make war.

Now on earth, an angel stands in the sun and announces the final battle of Armageddon. He cries with a loud voice, saying to all the flying birds, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great” (vv. 17-18).

And there on the plain of Armageddon stand the Antichrist (the Beast), the False Prophet, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered to make war against Jesus. They defy God right up to the very last.

Imagine that scene! The puny armies of the world look up in shock and awe at Jesus Christ coming from the sky and with Him as part of the parade are His angel armies, dressed in fine white linen and riding white horses to witness His victory.

Obviously, the outcome is inevitable. There’s not even a battle. Jesus first casts the Antichrist and the False Prophet into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone. The rest of the armies are killed by the sword coming out from Jesus’ mouth. And the birds hold a feast on their flesh.

The sword which comes out of Jesus’ mouth is the Word of God. Sharper and quicker and more powerful than a two-edged sword, this Word spoke the universe into existence, and His words completely vanquish His foes. This is also the Word of God that will save you if you will only believe Him.

Next week will see God’s answer to the Lord’s prayer.