Chuck Smith: The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ - Chapter 19

Pastor Chuck Smith teaches Revelation 20, returning to the heavenly scene to highlight worship, God’s perfect justice, and the need to be clothed in Christ’s righteousness. He reviews Revelation’s structure, contrasts the fall of false religion with the triumph of Jesus, and underscores the certainty of final judgment—culminating in the doom of the Antichrist and false prophet—and the hope secured for all who follow Christ.

The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ - Chapter 19

Let’s turn to Revelation 19.

Here we have these interesting Greek words, “after these things” (meta tauta). After what things? After God’s judgment upon the earth; after the judgment of the great Babylon commercial system—the system of the Antichrist. “After these things” I heard a great voice of many people in heaven. So we have moved back to the heavenly scene.

When John wrote the Book of Revelation (1:19), he was commanded to “write the things which you have seen, the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things (meta tauta).” In chapter 1 he wrote the vision—“the things which he saw.” Chapters 2–3 are “the things which are,” the ministry of the church on earth. Chapter 4 begins with the words meta tauta—“after these things.” It was there, after the church things, that John was taken into heaven and beheld the heavenly scene in chapters 4 and 5. Then we came back to the earth and saw the judgments of God, chapters 6 through 18, as God poured out His wrath upon a Christ-rejecting, God-hating, sinful world. Now the judgments are complete. So “after these things” we go back to heaven, and the first thing is the great voice of many people in heaven saying, “Hallelujah!”

“Hallelujah” is a Hebrew word: hallel (praise) + Yah (Yahweh) — “Praise the LORD.” This is the first time the word “Hallelujah” is used in the New Testament. It is used quite frequently throughout the Psalms (in Hebrew), but here this Hebrew praise bursts forth: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God.”

It’s interesting how, throughout Revelation, as God is worshiped, certain characteristics are recognized and honored. In chapter 4, as the cherubim are worshiping God, the 24 elders respond, “You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power.” When Jesus takes the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sits on the throne, the church declares, “Worthy is the Lamb to take the scroll and to loose its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” Then the other heavenly beings join in praise to Jesus, declaring His worthiness to receive glory, honor, power, and dominion.

Back in the heavenly scene, what are we doing? Praising the Lord—still. “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God, for true and righteous are His judgments.” It’s striking that, throughout this book—dealing with God’s fierce judgments—there is an ongoing recognition and declaration of the fairness of God’s judgments: “True and righteous are Your judgments.”

Some people challenge the judgments of God. Often there’s an insinuation that God isn’t fair: “How could a God of love…?” When you hear questions like that, there’s an undertone of challenge to the fairness of God. I don’t put much trust in the judgments of man; I’ve read some verdicts and thought, “Surely justice is blind.” But I am absolutely certain that whatever God does is right. No one will be able to say they got a bum rap from God. When God judges, it will be according to righteousness. “True and righteous are His judgments because He has judged the great harlot” (chapter 17)—the false church—“who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged the blood of His servants shed by her hand.”

And again they said, “Hallelujah!” (We have four of them here in chapter 19.) “And her smoke rose up forever and ever”—the smoke of God’s judgment upon this great system. The 24 elders (introduced in chapter 4, representing the church) and the four living creatures (the cherubim around the throne) fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Hallelujah!” It’s interesting: in the worship of God, these 24 elders—representative of the church—are always falling down and worshiping. In chapter 4, as the cherubim say, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come,” the elders fall on their faces, casting their crowns on the glassy sea, saying, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor…”

A voice came from the throne, saying—here’s encouragement, if we need it (I don’t think we will then)—“Praise our God, all you His servants, and those who fear Him, both small and great!” Calling on all to praise God. In the Psalms we are constantly exhorted to praise the LORD for His mercy, His goodness, and in different ways—with instruments and voices. Again we are here enjoined to praise the LORD, this voice from the throne: “All who fear Him, both small and great.”

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns!’”

The time has come. The earth has been languishing under the reign of Satan for almost 6,000 years—since Adam forfeited the title to the earth to Satan—when Satan began his deadly, destructive rule. All the sickness, suffering, wars, bloodshed, strife, and jealousies trace back to the rule of Satan. No wonder they say, “Praise the LORD! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns!” The time has come for Him to establish His kingdom upon the earth; the time has come for Him to rule.

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

The Marriage of the Lord and His Church

Throughout the New Testament, the husband-and-wife figure depicts Christ and His church. Paul said to the Corinthians, “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” In this analogy, there is to be a full, single devotion to Jesus. Our worship is to be directed to Him; our love for Him must exceed all other loves. If another love or experience exceeds our love for the Lord, that is spiritual adultery. The false religious system—the harlot—embraced other “gods”: power, wealth. Seeking to exercise power and use wealth, she worshiped those things, and thus comes under judgment because her first love was not the Lord.

“His wife has made herself ready.” Over and over, as Jesus spoke of His second coming, He told them to watch and be ready, for “in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man comes.” “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

Paul, writing to the Philippians, contrasted the righteousness he sought through the law with the righteousness that comes by faith. “If anyone could boast in the flesh, I more,” he said—a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, zealous; “concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” But those things he counted loss for the excellency of knowing Christ. On the road to Damascus, breathing threats and murder against the church, Paul met Jesus. The Lord revealed the righteousness provided through His death—He fulfilled the law completely. “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Paul began to see the Old Testament anew: Abraham’s faith was accounted to him for righteousness. Righteousness is received by faith in Jesus Christ. When they asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” He said, “This is the work of God: that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Thank God for this new and living way. When Jesus took the cup, He said, “This is the new covenant in My blood, shed for the remission of sins.” Through Christ, God established a new covenant—a way to approach Him—through the righteousness of Jesus imputed to us by faith. Thus the Bride is adorned in the beautiful garment of Christ’s righteousness: “to be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.”

The angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” Oh, how happy! I don’t think we can imagine the rapture and joy we will experience when we are in heaven, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and hear the invitation to the marriage of the Lamb. Jude writes, “Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…”—far beyond any joy we’ve experienced on earth. Because it is almost beyond imagination, the angel affirms to John, “These are the true sayings of God.”

John says, “I fell at his feet to worship him,” but the angel said, “Don’t do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Only God is to be worshiped. When Satan tempted Jesus, showing Him the kingdoms of the world and promising them if Jesus would worship him, Jesus replied, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Yet the wise men (Matthew 2:11), the leper (Matthew 8:2), Jairus, the disciples in the boat, and the women at the tomb all worshiped Jesus—and He received their worship. What does that tell you? Jesus is God.

Remember the paralytic in Capernaum let down through the roof. Jesus said, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” The Pharisees were offended: “That’s blasphemy—only God can forgive sins.” Jesus asked, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?” To prove He had authority to forgive sins, He said to the man, “Rise, take up your bed and go home,” and he did. Jesus didn’t dispute that only God can forgive sins; He proved that He is God.

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” People ask, “Is the United States in prophecy?” Prophecy’s spirit is Jesus. All prophecy centers on Him: in the Old Testament, His first coming; now, His second coming and the world circumstances surrounding it.

“I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns (diadems). He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and without Him nothing was made that was made.” In Revelation 5, when no one was found worthy to take the scroll, the elder said, “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed.” John turned and saw “a Lamb as though it had been slain”—His robe dipped in blood.

Isaiah 63 prophesies: “Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?” “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” “Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress?” “I have trodden the winepress alone… For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come.” In righteousness He judges and makes war.

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory; all nations will be gathered before Him” (Matthew 25). He will separate them as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. To those on His right: “Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom.” To those on His left: “Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Daniel 12 speaks of the timeline: from the setting up of the abomination of desolation (when the Antichrist stands in the rebuilt temple, declares that he is God, stops the daily sacrifices), there will be 1,290 days. “Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the 1,335 days.” Those first 45 days at the Lord’s return will be days of judgment, determining who among the survivors of the Great Tribulation will be cast into hell and who will be allowed to enter the kingdom. If you’re here after day 1,335, you’ve made it through that period into the kingdom age.

“The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” “Behold, He comes with ten thousands of His saints” to execute judgment. Paul said, “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” We shall live and reign with Him for a thousand years (as we sang back in Revelation 5).

“Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

The Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. God spoke, “Let there be light,” and there was light. The words that go forth from His mouth are like a sharp sword—there is really no “battle”: He speaks and the enemy is destroyed. His rule will be ironclad—righteous and just. Those who refuse to comply will be dealt with severely. As we return to reign with Christ, we will be His administrators—“enforcers” of righteousness—receiving authority over territories on the earth (cf. parable of the talents: “You’ve been faithful… be ruler over ten cities”). The kings of the earth will come yearly to Jerusalem to sit at His feet and learn. Throughout the ages He will reveal the exceeding riches of His grace and love toward us in Christ Jesus.

“I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, ‘Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, captains, mighty men… both small and great.’” The Antichrist gathers the nations to thwart Christ’s kingdom. Multitudes—armies of the world—are gathered. The birds are invited to the feast; He will put them down.

“I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence… These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

Hell, Hades, and the Lake of Fire

There is a place called “hell”—in Hebrew, Sheol; in Greek, Hades—also translated “grave” or “hell.” Prior to Jesus’ death, this place was in the heart of the earth. Jesus said, “As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Paul (Ephesians 4) wrote that He who ascended first descended into the lower parts of the earth, and when He ascended He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.

Jesus described Sheol in Luke 16: the rich man and Lazarus—two compartments, separated by a great gulf: Abraham’s bosom (comfort) and a place of torment. When Jesus died, He preached to the spirits in prison and led the captives free—He opened the prison to those who were bound (Isaiah 61). He emptied that section of Hades for the righteous. The unrighteous dead remain, awaiting the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20): “Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them… and death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

The lake of fire is Gehenna—derived from the Valley of Hinnom, just south of Jerusalem. In times of Israel’s apostasy, they worshiped Baal and Molech, burning their infants in bonfires—“causing their children to pass through the fire.” In Jesus’ day it had become the city dump; fires burned continually, smoke always rising. Thus Gehenna: a place of continual burning—“the lake of fire and brimstone.”

The first occupants of Gehenna will be the Antichrist and the false prophet. They will be there alone for a thousand years. Satan, at Christ’s return, will be bound and cast into the Abyss (the bottomless pit) for a thousand years; he will be released briefly at the end (chapter 20). Then he too will be cast into the lake of fire “where the beast and the false prophet are”—not were—“and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” The annihilation of the wicked is not taught in Scripture; “the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.”

“The rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.” Such is the result when Christ returns and puts down those forces gathered to thwart the establishing of God’s kingdom. He will overcome them, for He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Closing Prayer

Father, we thank You for these insights into the future. We’re so glad we’re on Your side—that we have surrendered our lives now and acknowledge that Jesus is King. He is Lord—King of our lives. We crown Thee now; Thine shall the glory be.

We see how the world is gathered against You today. We can see how the Antichrist is already preparing the hearts of men in rebellion. The forces of darkness are being mustered to try to thwart Your coming kingdom. But Your kingdom shall stand, and we thank You that You’ve called us to be a part of it.

As we look at history, we see how often people turned from You. You warned us that, in the last days, because iniquity will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Lord, don’t let our love grow cold. Keep us fervent in our pursuit of You and in our love for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers for the Week

The pastors are here at the front to pray with you. If you have any need—spiritual, physical, financial—come. Perhaps you’ve got a rough week ahead and feel apprehensive. Start in prayer. Find the Lord’s help and strength. He wants to help you. Share your request; they’ll gladly pray with you. “If two or three agree on earth concerning anything, it shall be done.”

Song

“In this 19th chapter we’ve had the four ‘Hallelujahs’ of the New Testament—praise to the Lord. Let’s sing:”

Sing: Hallelujah to the Lord…

Great warm-up. You sound like angels. God bless you.