Episode 27 Chapter 19 – The Wedding Supper of the Lamb

 

You can watch the video of this study on my YouTube channel here at 8pm AEST.

Introduction

Tonight, we will explore the wedding supper of the lamb in Revelation 19. This passage brings the culmination of the judgement of Babylon, and then the final judgement of the world’s corrupt system. After this comes the Millennium…at least from a premillennial perspective. From an Amillennial perspective this all happens in a different way. We live in the Millenium now…but that is next times Bible study.

Revelation 19 is a fascinating passage, because it gives us one of the most incredible descriptions of our Lord Jesus Christ, but also the great uniting of Christ with his bride. In fact, this passage really builds on some powerful Old Testament and New Testament imagery of marriage and how this points to the culmination of the ages in God’s plan. So, let’s now turn to the analysis, before we get into the questions.

Analysis of Revelation 19

Revelation 19 is a pivotal chapter that serves as the climax of God's judgment on the evil beast system and the triumphant return of Jesus Christ. It can be divided into three main sections:

1. Rejoicing in Heaven (vv. 1-10): This section is a response to the fall of "Babylon the Great" (the world's corrupt system) described in chapters 17-18. Heaven erupts in praise because God's justice has been served.
2. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (vv. 6-10): A shift occurs from judgment to celebration. The focus is on the intimate union between Christ (the Lamb) and his people (the Bride, the Church).
3. The Rider on the White Horse (vv. 11-21): This is the dramatic Second Coming of Jesus. He is portrayed not as a suffering servant, but as a divine warrior and king who decisively defeats the beast, the false prophet, and their armies.

As Hebrews tells us Christ died one for the sins of all, and then he will return once to judge the living and the dead (Hebrews 9:27-28). Here we see that coming described. Let’s look at some of the background for this passage.

Old Testament Background

The imagery and themes in Revelation 19 are deeply rooted in the Old Testament, showing continuity in God's plan of judgment and salvation.

• Heavenly Praise (vv. 1-6): The cries of "Hallelujah" (Praise the Lord) and the themes of God's true judgments echo the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 104:35; Psalm 111:7; Psalm 146-150).
• The Divine Warrior (vv. 11-16): This portrait draws heavily from several prophets.
• Isaiah 63: Describes a figure with robes stained red, treading the winepress of God's wrath.
• Daniel 7: The "Son of Man" figure who is given dominion and an everlasting kingdom.
• Psalm 2: The Messiah who will "rule them with a rod of iron" and dash the nations to pieces.
• The Great Supper of God (vv. 17-18): This gruesome image is a reversal of the sacrificial system and finds its origin in Ezekiel 39:17-20, where God invites birds and wild animals to a great sacrifice to feast on the armies of Gog.
• The Word of God (v. 13): This title connects Jesus directly to the creative and powerful word of God in Genesis 1 and the personified Wisdom of God in the Old Testament.

New Testament Background

This chapter brings to fulfillment themes developed throughout the New Testament.

• The Lamb: The title "Lamb" for Jesus is central to Revelation, pointing back to his sacrificial death on the cross (John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19).
• The Marriage Analogy: The relationship between Christ and the Church as a marriage is a key theme in Paul's letters (Ephesians 5:25-32).
• The Second Coming: The return of Christ as a conquering king is a consistent hope in the NT (e.g., Matthew 24:30; Acts 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
• The Word of God (v. 13): John's Gospel opens by identifying Jesus as the divine Logos (Word), who was with God and was God (John 1:1). Revelation 19 portrays this same Word in triumphant, judicial action.
• Worship (v. 10): The angel's correction to John reinforces a core NT and biblical principle: worship is reserved for God alone (Acts 10:25-26; Colossians 2:18).

Revelation 19 Study Questions.  

1. Who is this crying out in Revelation 19:1?? (Cf. Revelation 6:10-11).

 

2. Vv.1-2 – The saints praise God for his judgement on the wicked apostate people of God, why would they celebrate his destruction of the prostitute?

 

3. What does verse 3 mean about the judgement of the prostitute? (cf. 14:11).

 

4. Who are the 24 elders again?

 

5. I can’t help but see the great joy here at the judgement of the great prostitute, why is there so much joy?

 

6. Is this the same group crying out again in v.6?

 

7. Why is the destruction of the great prostitute aligned with the wedding marriage of the lamb? (Matthew 25:1-13 – Note that this is talking not about the rapture, but the second coming and final judgement, this begins to happen in Revelation 18, note also that these foolish virgins are forced to deal in trade with the world, because they aren’t ready. The event Jesus is talking about is the same wedding feast of Revelation 19).

 

8. What are they clothed in? Why do so many people say that works don’t matter?

 

9. Why would John seek to worship an angel (vv.9-10)?  

 

10. What does he mean that testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy?

 

11. Vv. 11-13 – Who is the rider on the white horse and what is cool about his description?

 

12. How does verse 15 correspond to chapter 14:17-20?

 

13. Vv.11-16 Overall what is your impression of the way Jesus is represented in this passage. Now let me ask, a seemingly unrelated, question but is hardness a quality of a man’s strength? In a world that often seems dominated by evil and injustice, what hope and comfort can a Christian draw from the vision of Christ as the Faithful and True Warrior-King?

 

14. The beast annihilated the whore, now it is the beast’s turn: what are your thoughts on verses 17-21?

 

15. How does verses 20-21 fit with chapter 14:9-11? Do you see why I say chapter 14 is a summary of chapters 15-19?

 

16. The beast and the prophet are thrown into the lake of fire directly, they aren’t killed but thrown in alive? What does this mean?