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Chapter Six

The last few years of this Age. Rev.4v1 to 20v3

The wrath of God, and marriage supper of the Lamb. Rev. 19v1 to 20v3

God reigns, the wicked are vanquished, the separation of Christ from His Church on earth is ended, and we see our beloved Lord as He really is. What a wonderful day that will be, when the marriage supper of the Lamb is come, and Christ is the Bridegroom of the Church. Mt.22v2. 25v1. Mk.2v19. Jn.3v29. 2Cor.11v2. Eph.5v25. Rev.19v9. 21v2. 22v17. The exceeding joy of all Heaven at the marriage supper of the Lamb is expressed with the words of Rev.19v7., “Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad,” “chairomen kai agalliomen,” the present active subjunctive of “chairo” and “agalliao.” Both verbs occur together in Mt.5v12.. God is said to be the Bridegroom of Israel in Is.54v6. Hos 2v16. Jesus is the Bridegroom of the Kingdom in the Gospels. Mt.9v15. Mk.2v19,20. Lu.5v34,35. Jn.3v29. The marriage, “gamos,” is mentioned in Mt.22v2-14.. The bride is said to have “made herself ready,” with her Lord's help, for this great day. 1Jn.3v3. Jude.v21. 2Cor.7v1. Eph.5v25. This bridal dress is said to be “the righteous acts of the saints,” but it is a gift from Christ., for “it was given,” (“edothe,” the aorist passive indicative of “didooi,” to give, “edothe,” “it was given,” occurs about 20 times in Revelation). The garments are said to be, “fine linen, bright and pure.” See Rev.15v6. 19v14. In sharp contrast are the filthy garments of the harlot. Rev.17v4. 18v16.

Is the Bride of Christ a select group of Christians?
There are differences of opinion as to what persons will make up of the bride of Christ. Some think that they may be a select group of Christians, like the 144,000 of Rev.14v1-5., while others think the Bride is composed of the choice children of God from all the ages, while still others think that they are the saved of all the ages. I personally think that they are the saved of the present age. God has prepared a heavenly city for some faithful Old Testament saints; for Abraham, and others, were looking for a heavenly city. Heb.11v10-16,39,40. 12v22,23. 13v14. Rev.21v2,9,10. A faithful servant can have rule over a son that causes shame. Prov.17v2. The saved nations who bring their glory and honour into the new Jerusalem are distinguished from those who live in the city. Compare Rev.21v9,10. with 21v26. Who are nations who live outside the city and bring their glory into it? Do these nations consist of the redeemed of the Old Testament and Millennium? We shall have to wait until Jesus returns to find all the answers, but we can certainly say that this enormous city is built to hold untold millions of inhabitants.

Through the grace of God every believer is a member of Christ's Church and therefore a part of the bride of Christ. Rom.7v4. When Jesus is called the bridegroom of the Church, it is another way of saying that He is the Head of the Church. The Church is spoken of as a bride in relation to the age that is to come, and her role in that age, whereas she is looked upon as Christ's body in relation to this present age. All believers, even the carnal Corinthians, are looked upon as a member of the Church, and part of the body of Christ. 1Cor.12v12,13,27. 11v32. Eph.1v22,23. 5v23,24,27. Jn.3v29. Rev.19v9. Mt.22v2-10. We need to realise the great privilege that is ours in Christ, the Church is looked upon as being of a higher rank than the Old Testament Israel of God, however, they are both complementary and dependent upon one another. Mt.11v11. Heb.11v39,40. We are told very little about the organisation of the eternal kingdom of God so we should not be too dogmatic in our statements about it.

The relationship between the Church and Christ is likened to that between a bride and bridegroom, the most blest relationship that the human mind can conceive of. The glorious fellowship between Christ and His Church is impossible to describe other than by such symbols, it gives the picture of perfect love and perfect union of spirit and purpose, and that the plans, purposes, joys and activities of Christ and His Church will be the same forever.. What a glorious day it will be! Hallelujah! Let us make quite sure that we inherit all the promises that are given to us as Christians, for we can certainly miss the heavenly calling to rule with Christ by sloth and sin, even if we do not miss the marriage feast. Eph.1v11-14. Col.1v21-23. 1Thes.2v12. 1Pet.5v10. Rev.3v5. 14v1-5. 17v14. Heb.6v11,12. 10v35,36. 11v24-27. 2Jn.v8. The bride of Christ makes herself ready, her white garments are the result of the righteous acts that she has done by God's grace. James.2v14-26.

John was so overwhelmed by the glory of the vision and the majesty of the angel, that he fell down to worship him, but the angel forbade it, “See thou do it not,” “hora me,” a prohibition which is repeated again in Rev.22v9.. See Col.2v18. The angel has no Satanic desire to receive worship and tells John to worship God, as he was only revealing prophetic truth and testifying of Jesus, as a fellow-servant of God with John, and others, who had testified of Jesus. The angel states that the Holy Spirit’s prophetic ministry manifests itself in witness to Jesus. This is a true test of a person's source of inspiration. 1Jn.4v1-6. Col.1v7.4v7. Rev.6v11. Heb.1v14. “Fellow-servant,” is “sundoulos,” “doulos” gives the idea of humble subjection without bondage. Holy angels gratefully acknowledge that they owe all they have and are to God, and are truly humble about their immense abilities. The working together of angelic and earthly servants of God is very apparent in the activities of the early Church, and where the Church is renewed in faith, holiness and love, these visitations have always taken place.

JESUS COMES TO DESTROY EVIL AND REIGN. Rev.19v11 to 20v3. Cf. Is.24v21. 25v7-9.
The invisible spiritual world is permanently opened and made visible to all on earth.

We read in Rev.19v11., that “the heaven opened,” “eneoigmenon,” the perfect passive participle of “anoigo,” to open, the perfect tense indicates that it has opened and continues to stand open, the veil has been permanently removed. This most significant of all openings of Heaven, will reveal to mankind the present unseen realities in the heavenly and spiritual world. This fulfils the prophecy of Mt.24v27-31.. The Scriptures record that the heavens have been opened and visions of God have been granted to individuals, particularly the prophets, and to groups of people, like Moses and the 70 elders of Israel, and the 500 people who saw Jesus after His resurrection. Exod.24v9-18. 1Cor.15v6. Chron.18v18-22. Is.6v1-13. Ezek.1v1-28.

The heavens were opened to Jesus at His baptism, the aorist passive of “anoigo,” to open, is used in Mt.3v16. and Lk.3v21., but Mk.1v10., states Jesus saw the heavens “parting asunder,” “schizomenous,” the present passive participle of “schizo,” to split, to divide. Jesus said that Nathanael would experience an opened Heaven like Jacob. Gen.28v12-16. Jn.1v51. John in Revelation. Rev.4v1,2.. 3v7,8. The vision of Jesus is glorious, awe-inspiring and majestic.

Here we see Christ’s glorious appearing, an event referred to before in Revelation, but not described in detail. In Rev.1v14. and 2v18., as well as here, Christ’s eyes are described “as a flame of fire,” His kind but searching eyes search every heart and life, and give to everyone, sinner and saint alike, according to their works. Jesus wears, “many royal kingly crowns,” “diademata polla,” as King of kings and Lord of lords. The dragon has a diadem on each of his seven heads, Rev.12v3., and Antichrist one on each of his ten horns Rev.13v1., but their kingdoms and crowns are destroyed, Christ's kingdom and crowns will last forever. God rewards the incorruptible integrity and victories of Jesus with a name of special significance, which only He knows. His name, and the names written on the foreheads of the overcomers and the 144,000, contrast greatly with the blasphemous names written on the forehead of the harlot. Rev.2v17. 3v12. 14v1. 17v5.

Our faithful and true, Messiah Warrior, and Judge.
Christ’s white horse signifies his purity and love, He comes to purify and cleanse the world of evil. Antichrist’s white horse signifies that he makes an outside show of being a peacemaker, and deceitfully and craftily hides the total evil within. Rev.6v1,2. Antichrist brings sin, war, and awful suffering to the world, Jesus brings a reign of righteousness and peace. Jesus is “Faithful and True,” “pistos kai alethinos,” He fulfils His Word, He is the promised righteous Messiah Warrior Judge of the Old Testament, and “in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” Is.11v1-10. Rev.1v5.3v7,14. 22v6. Jesus comes with the final and irrevocable act of judgement on Antichrist and his followers, for the suffering they have caused, so He executes them and removes their evil presence from creation. Is.42v13-16. 63v1-6. 2Thes.1v5-11.

We read in Rev.19v14., that “the armies which are in Heaven followed him, upon white horses and clothed in fine linen white and pure.” This time they are not under the direction of Michael as in Rev.12v7., but under the command of Jesus. Mt.13v41. 24v29-31. 25v31. 26v53. Rev.5v11,12. Jesus personally executes the armies of Antichrist who turn to fight him, His angelic hosts gather the Christian saints together into His presence at His coming, Mt.24v31.; they also go among the nations of the earth and weed out the wicked from the righteous, and bring them for judgement. Mt.13v36-43,47-50. 25v31-46.

The sword of our Lord's mouth is an awesome weapon.
We read that a sword proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord, in Rev.1v16. 2v12., we read “romphaia distomos oxeia,” literally “a sword two-mouthed sharp,” here in Rev.19v15., “a sharp sword,” is “romphaia oxeia,” The sword here is not the “machaira,” spoken of in Heb.4v12., it is the “romphaia,” the long and heavy broad sword which the Thracians and other nations were armed with, some say the word speaks of a Thracian javelin. The word “romphaia,” only occurs in Rev.1v16. 2v12,16. 6v8. 19v15,21. and in Lk.2v35., where Simeon uses it to convey the terrible shock and inner pain that Mary would feel when Jesus became “a sign which was spoken against,” and was “despised and rejected,” persecuted and crucified. The sword of our Lord's mouth is a terrifying weapon, which will be manifested at His second coming with devastating effect on the wicked. His spoken words of judgement cause the dissolution of the bodies of the armies of Antichrist. Zech.14v12. Rev.19v15,21. “Rule” here is “poimanei,” the future active of “poimaino”, to shepherd as in Rev.2v27. and 12v5., Jesus shepherds the nations “with a rod of iron,” for it needs a rod of iron to bring and keep order in the world at His return, Jesus shepherds His own flock very differently. 1Pe.2v25. & Heb.13v20. use “poimen,” shepherd. Rev.7v17., “pomainei,” will shepherd.

The great day of the wrath of the Lamb.
This is the day when Jesus destroys the wicked who are destroying the earth. Rev.6v17. 11v18. 14v17-20. 16v17-21. The God of love has gone to the very limits of longsuffering and mercy, but He refuses to allow the world to suffer any more, so the day of vengeance has come, when the unrepentant will receive the wrath that they have treasured up. Is.61v2. Eccles.8v11. Rom.2v4. Rev.2v21. We read that our Lord “treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God,” The wrath of the Lamb is so much more striking, because it is the wrath of love and justice, it is in no sense due to personal spite. The meek and lowly Saviour is stirred to intense anger at the wicked because of the tremendous suffering that they have caused, so Jesus bursts out in terrible anger and judgement on the wicked. Is.42v13-17. 63v1-6. Ps.2v1-12. 45v1-7. 2Pet.3v9.10. Rev.6v12-17. Jer.25v15-38. Is.24v17-23.

The "thumos" and "orge" anger of God. The Bible often speaks of the anger of God and His punishment of the wicked. In Rev.14v10. 16v19. and 19v5., John uses two Greek words, both of which mean anger, to emphasise the strength of Christ’s and the Father’s anger on the day of the Lord. The flaming anger of “thumos,” and the smouldering lasting anger of “orge,” are used to describe the great anger of God the Father and Son on that great last day. “Orge,” speaks of God’s judicial anger, “thumos” is God’s, “great but transient anger,” a more passionate, but a more temporary anger, like fire in straw, quickly blazing up, and as quickly extinguished. “Thumos” occurs 18 times in the New Testament, 10 of which are in the Revelation, it is used to describe the wrath of God 8 times, Rom.2v8. Rev.14v10,19. 15v1,7. 16v1,19. 19v15., and it well describes the tremendous outburst of God's wrath on the day of the Lord, at the second coming of Christ. Everywhere else the word “thumos is used in a bad sense, Lk.4v28. Acts.19v28. 2Cor.12v20. Gal.5v20. Eph.4v31. Col.3v8. Heb.11v27. Rev.12v12. 14v8. 18v3.. The word “orge” describes “the smouldering anger,” and “the abiding and settled habit of mind” and attitude that God manifests in dealing with the sinner before the great day of His wrath. The word “orge” occurs in the following places. Mt.3v7. Mk.3v5. Lk.3v7. 21v23. Jn.3v36. Rom.1v18. 2v5,8. 3v5. 4v15. 5v9. 9v22. 12v19. 13v4,5. Eph.2v3. 4v31. 5v6. Col.3v6,8. 1Thes.1v10. 2v16. 5v9. 1Tim.2v8. Heb.3v11. 4v3. James.1v19,20. Rev.6v16,17. 11v18. 14v10. 16v19. 19v15. The verb “orgizomai,” is used in, Mt.5v22. 18v34. 22v7. Lk.14v21. 15v28. Eph.4v26. Rev.11v18. 12v17.

In Rev.19v13., we read that Jesus is “clothed with a garment dipped in blood,” (the Majority Text reads “bebammenon,” the perfect passive participle of “bapto,” to dip). In Is.63v1-3., it is stated that the garments of Jesus will be stained with the blood of His enemies; however, Rev.19v13., is almost certainly not speaking of the blood of the wicked, for this blood is on His garments before He destroys Antichrist and his evil followers. Christ's bloodstained garments proclaim to all, that before He judges the wicked, He has done all that He could to save them, even to the shedding of His own precious blood for them. Now He comes to judge the wicked, who had not only rejected His offer of salvation, but had brought terrible suffering to the world. Jesus is “Faithful and True” in all that He does, whether it be redemption, or judgement. Blessed be His name!

Antichrist and his armies are by no means repentant, and turn to fight the Lord.
Antichrist’s armies try to fight the Lord, they think that they can destroy the Almighty. Rev.6v15-17. 19v19. Ps.2v1-12. Dan.8v25. It proves if wicked men see God, they will not repent, they see God and fight Him in open defiance and rebellion. Rom.1v18-21,32. An even more amazing rebellion takes place at the end of the Millennium, when, after living in the presence of God for 1,000 years, vast multitudes rebel and attempt to destroy the city of God and its inhabitants. A huge number of people still want to be wicked, even though there has been perfect peace, prosperity, and no problems of any kind. It is a tragic fact, that people can, like Satan, make an irrevocable choice for evil while living in the presence of God. Is.24v23. The Beast and the false prophet still have the same attitude to God and sin, that they had when they were put in the lake of fire 1,000 years before, they have lost their bodies, but they have not lost their desire to sin. Rev.20v10 with 21v8. We see from Mt.25v41,46. and Rev.14v9-11., that those who followed Antichrist go straight to the lake of fire, and not to Hades, and as they have made their decision to sin for ever, clear to all, there is no need of another judgement at the Great White Throne.

God the Word fulfils His promise to judge the wicked and establish His kingdom.
In Jn.1v1,14., Jesus is called, “The Word,” “ho logos;” in 1Jn.1v1., He is called “the Word of Life,” “ho Logos tes zoes;” here in Rev.19v13., Jesus is called, “The Word of God,” “ho Logos tou theou.” The Jews understood this phrase referred to the only true God, and it is as God that Jesus returns to judge. Jn.1v1,18. 14v7-11. Jesus fully and perfectly expresses all that the Father is, all the beauty and glory of His mind, person and character. Jn.14v8,9. Col.2v9.

Jesus is the Lord of hosts, and the angelic hosts obey His commands, they “gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do wickedly,” they sift the remaining wicked from among the nations after Jesus has destroyed Antichrist's armies and followers. Mt.13v39-43,49,50. Zech.14v12. 2Thes.1v7,8. Rev.19v20,21. We know from 1Thes.4v14., and Judev14,15., that when Jesus returns He brings back the souls of the saints who have died. Jesus returns as King to reign, to receive the kingdom that is rightfully His. He is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords, and this title is written upon His dress that is upon His thigh, as was the usual custom of great personages in Eastern countries. Jesus comes to reign in righteousness and to bring peace. Is.32v1,15-18. The wicked, who have destroyed peace and happiness, are themselves destroyed. Scavenging birds are invited to eat the corpses of Antichrist’s armies, to help to clean up the earth after the slaughter. This prophecy of judgement will certainly be fulfilled. Ezek.39v9-22. The angelic armies God sends in judgement, He can send in blessing, if His Church is willing, but He is often frustrated by a stubborn and rebellious people. Rom.10v21.

Satan is seized, chained and put into the abyss by one angel. Lk.8v31. Rom.10v7. Rev.9v1,11.
Satan is not put in the lake of fire yet, for God has still to make further use of his wickedness, and “he must be loosed,” (“dei,” the Divine necessity), “for a little time.” Rev.20v1-3,7-10. God could have put Satan in the Abyss long ago, but He has used Satan to make people choose good or evil more quickly than they would have done without his influence. God has also used Satan to purify His saints, God uses a hired razor to shave his people. Job.1v1 to 2v13. Lk.22v31-34. Is.7v20. 10.v5,6.

Notice the names that God gives to the Evil One in Rev.20v2.

He is called, “The Dragon.” This to show his destructive and fierce nature, he is the destroyer of mankind and creation.

God also calls him, “The Old Serpent.” This reveals his longstanding hatred of mankind, he has been the enemy of man since man's creation, and has corrupted the first parents and the rest of their seed.

Satan is also spoken of as, “The Devil.” He slanders and accuses God to man, and slanders and accuses man to God. Gen.3v1-5. Job.1v9-11. 2v4,5. Rev.12v10. He is the father and originator of all slanderous lies and deceit. Jn.8v44.

He is “Satan.” The adversary, who opposes both the will of God, and the truth of God; he is the adversary who Christ had to fight, and Christ's brethren have the same conflict with him.

Here we see the kingdom of darkness smashed and broken by the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. When He returns Jesus imprisons Satan and his angels, a thing that they now look forward to with great dread. This judgement of the wicked angels, as well as wicked men, will make it possible for the world to be happy again. Ps.82.v6,7. Is.24v21-23. 25v7. 34v5. Mt.8v29.

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