Lesson #48

REVELATION AND THE SECOND COMING
LESSON #48
THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB AND THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON – REV19

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 19:7

• READ REV 19:1-6 THE FOUR ALLELUIAS
• WHAT ARE THE FOUR ALLELUIAS (1, 3, 4, 6)?
• THE WORD, ALLELUIA, IS A UNIVERSAL WORD OF PRAISE TO GOD FOUND IN EVERY LANGUAGE.BUT WITH VARIOUS SPELLINGS.
• IN THE BIBLE THE WORD IS ALWAYS FOUND IN CONTEXT WITH JUDGMENT AS IT IS HERE IN REV 19.
• =1= THERE IS PRAISE TO GOD FOR THE SALVATION OF BELIEVERS WHO HAVE BEEN JUDGED AND RECEIVED THEIR REWARDS AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. (1)
• =2= THERE IS PRAISE TO GOD FOR THE JUDGMENT AND DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD FALSE RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS. (2-3)
• =3= THERE IS AN “AMEN” (SO BE IT) FOR ALL THINGS ARE FINISHED. THE WORLD SYSTEM HAS BEEN JUDGED AND A NEW MILLENNIUM BEGINS.(4)
• =4= THERE IS PRAISE BY A GREAT MULTITUDE FOR THE JUDGMENT AND DESTRUCTION OF CHRIST’S ENEMIES AS CHRIST COMES TO REIGN. (6)
• THE SCENE IN HEAVEN
• WE SEE THE BELIEVERS IN HEAVEN WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEIR REWARDS AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST DURING THE TIME THAT THE TRIBULATION PERIOD HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON EARTH.
• WE SEE THOSE BELIEVERS WHO ARE MARTYRED DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. THEY, TOO, WILL RECEIVE THEIR REWARDS AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.
• WE SEE THE SAME 24 ELDERS AND 4 LIVING CREATURES (4) THAT WE SAW BACK IN REV 4 THAT SURROUND THE THRONE OF GOD IN HEAVEN (LESSON #18 AND #19).
• WE SEE A GREAT MULTITUDE OF BELIEVERS WHO ARE SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. (6)

• READ REV 19:7-10 THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
• WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST AND THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB IN OUR STUDY. (SEE LESSON #17)
• YOU CAN LOCATE THESE EVENTS ON THE MASTER TIME LINE CHART. (LESSON #02)
• THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB = A TIME OF GREAT JOY WITH JESUS PERSONALLY PRESENT WITH BELIEVERS.
• THOSE CHRISTIANS BELIEVING IN A PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE BELIEVE THIS EVENT OCCURS IN HEAVEN DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• THOSE CHRISTIANS BELIEVING IN A POST-TRIBULATION RAPTURE, BELIEVE THAT THIS EVENT OCCURS ON EARTH AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION AND THE BEGINNING OF THE MILLENNIUM BECAUSE OF THE CONTEXT OF THIS CHAPTER.
• THE WIFE / BRIDE IS THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST.
• FINE LINEN = RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SAINTS = RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST (8)
• REV 19:8 SAYS THAT THE FINE LINEN IS SYMBOLIC OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE BELIEVERS. HOWEVER, EVERY TRUE BELIEVER IN CHRIST KNOWS THAT HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.

• THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON
• SCRIPTURES FOR THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON OCCUR IN VARIOUS PLACES IN THE OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENTS. (THREE PLACES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION).
• REV 9:13-21
• REV 14:14-20
• REV 16:13-16
• ZEC 12:9-14
• ZEC 14:1-7,12-15
• ISA 17:12-14
• ISA 34
• ISA 63:2-4
• JOE 3:9-17
• HOW DOES THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON BEGIN?
• WAR IS THREATENED WHEN THE KINGS (GOVERNMENT LEADERS) OF THE EAST REBEL AGAINST THE ANTI-CHRIST’S RULE OVER THE WORLD. (THE GREEK TEXT READS “KINGS OF THE RISING SUN”) (REV 16:12)
• THESE NATIONS CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS CHINA, JAPAN, NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA, SINGAPORE, AND MALAYSIA.
• WHAT NATIONS WILL BE IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON?
• ALL NATIONS OF THE WORLD WILL BE REPRESENTED.
• THE OLD TESTAMENT HAS MUCH TO SAY REGARDING PROPHECIES OF JUDGMENT UPON NATIONS THAT THROUGH THEIR HISTORY HAVE ESPECIALLY PERSECUTED THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
• THE BATTLE MAY BE ATOMIC IN NATURE (ISA 34:1-17 ZEC 14:12)
• CHRIST SHORTENS THE TIME LEST MANKIND BE TOTALLY DESTROYED (MAT 24:22)
• THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A LONG WAR, BUT A SHORT BATTLE. JESUS CHRIST WILL END THE BATTLE WITH THE EVENT OF HIS COMING IN THE CLOUDS.
• JESUS WILL DESTROY ALL ARMIES (REV 19:15,21 ZEP 3:8)
• THE LOCATION OF THE BATTLE:
• FROM THE VARIOUS SCRIPTURES ABOUT THIS BATTLE, WE CAN DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THIS BATTLE:
• ARMAGEDDON (REV 16:16)
• THE NAME, ARMAGEDDON, COMES FROM THE NAME OF THE CITY OF MEGIDDO LOCATED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF ISRAEL IN VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT (JOE 3:2,9-17) ON THE PLAIN OF JEZREEL.
• THE NAME MEANS = MOUNT OF MEGIDDO.
• THIS IS A NATURAL BATTLEFIELD:
• THE FIRST BATTLE WAS FOUGHT HERE BY THE EGYPTIAN PHARAOH, THUTMOSE III IN 1479 BC.
• THE CANAANITE GENERAL SISERA DIED IN BATTLE HERE. (JDG 4)
• KING SAUL AND KING JOSIAH BOTH DIED IN BATTLES HERE. (1SAM 31 2KIN 23)
• ALMOST EVERY MAJOR INVADER OF THE PROMISED LAND HAD A BATTLE HERE.
• EGYPTIANS, CANAANITES, MIDIANITES, AMALEKITES, PHILISTINES, MASMONEANS, GREEKS, ROMANS, BYZANTINES, MUSLIMS, CRUSADERS, MAMLUKES, MONGOLS, FRENCH, OTTOMANS, BRITISH, AUSTRALIANS, GERMANS, SYRIANS, AND THE PALESTINIANS.
• FAMOUS LEADERS SUCH AS QUEEN JEZEBEL, (2KIN 9:14-37 2CHR 22:5-9), ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES IV, PTOLEMY, EMPEROR VESPASIAN, SALADIN, NAPOLEON, AND GENERAL ALLENBY.
• IN THE TIME OF THE APOSTLE JOHN, 13 BATTLES HAD BEEN FOUGHT HERE, FOUR AT THE CITY OF MEGGIDO.
• THE CITY OF MEGGIDO WAS THE KEY TO THE CONTROL OF ALL OF THE JEZREEL VALLEY.
• THE LOCATION OF THIS VALLEY HAS PROMPTED MANY BATTLES.
• THE VALLEY OF JEZREEL IS 20 MILES LONG AND 7 MILES WIDE. IT RUNS ACROSS THE BREADTH OF ISRAEL FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA TO THE JORDAN RIVER.
• THIS VALLEY WAS AT THE CROSSROADS OF THE TRADE ROUTES.
• WHY THIS BATTLEFIELD?
• THE KINGS DESCENDED FROM THE LINEAGE OF DAVID WERE DEALT A SEVERE BLOW WHEN THE GOOD KING, JOSIAH, WAS KILLED HERE. (2KIN 23 2CHR 35). CHRIST WILL AVENGE THAT DEATH AND ESTABLISH HIS ROYAL LINK TO THE LINEAGE OF DAVID. CHRIST’S SECOND COMING RE-ESTABLISHES THE KINGDOM OF DAVID IN THE MILLENNIUM.
• OUTSIDE THE CITY (REV 14:20)
• THE CITY IS JERUSALEM.
• THE BATTLE WILL EXTEND DOWN THE JEZREEL VALLEY THROUGH THE KIDRON VALLEY OUTSIDE THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. (REV 14:20)
• BOZRAH (ISA 34:1-10 ISA 63:1-4)
• THE BATTLE WILL EXTEND SOUTH OF JERUSALEM TO THE CITY OF BOZRAH WHICH IS ABOUT 30 MILES NORTH OF PETRA IN JORDAN.
• THE FOCUS OF THE BATTLE:
• THE INITIAL FOCUS IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON IS ONE NATION AGAINST ANOTHER NATION. (ZEC 14:1-13)
• HOWEVER, WHEN CHRIST APPEARS IN THE SKY AT HIS COMING, THE FOCUS CHANGES. INSTEAD OF FIGHTING EACH OTHER, THE ARMIES WILL FIGHT THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST. (REV 19:19)
• THE RESULTS OF THE BATTLE:
• BECAUSE CHRIST FIGHTS THIS BATTLE ALONE WITH THE SWORD OF THE WORD OF GOD FROM HIS MOUTH, THE BATTLE WILL BE OVER VERY QUICKLY.
• DEATH AND BLOOD WILL BE EXTENSIVE. (REV 14:20)
• BLOOD WILL EXTEND TO THE HORSES BRIDLES FOR 184 MILES FROM MEGGIDO TO BOZRAH. (REV 14:20)
• CHRIST’S CLOTHING WILL BE STAINED WITH THE BLOOD OF NON-BELIEVERS IN THE BATTLE. (ISA 63:1-16)
• 1/3 OF MANKIND DIES IN THIS BATTLE. (REV 9:15, 21 ZEP 3:9)
• THERE WILL BE MUCH MOURNING, WAILING, CRYING, NOISE, CONFUSION. (ZEC 12:11-14 ZEC 14:12-15)
• ALL NON-BELIEVERS AROUND THE WORLD WILL DIE AT THE COMING OF CHRIST.
• MANY WILL DIE IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• MANY WILL DIE AS A RESULT OF THE FINAL PLAGUES IN THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• MANY WILL DIE IN A FINAL EARTHQUAKE THAT GOES AROUND THE WORLD THE INSTANT CHRIST’S FOOT TOUCHES THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.
• READ ZEC 14:4-7.
• CHRIST WILL KILL MANY WHO FIGHT AGAINST HIM AT HIS COMING. (ZEP 3:8)
• SCAVENGER BIRDS WILL EAT THE FLESH OF THE DEAD (REV 19:17-19,21)
• GOD WILL CAST THE ANTI-CHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET IMMEDIATELY INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. (REV 19:20)
• THIS IS AN AMAZING THING, THAT THESE TWO PEOPLE ARE SO EVIL THAT THEY WILL NOT STAND IN THE FINAL GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT OF ALL NON-BELIEVERS THROUGH ALL HISTORY AT THE END OF THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM. INSTEAD GOD WILL INSTANTLY JUDGE THEM AND IMMEDIATELY CAST THEM INTO THE PLACE WHERE ALL NON-BELIEVERS SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE.

• READ REV 19:11-21 THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AND THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
• WHAT NAMES DO WE SEE FOR JESUS CHRIST IN THIS SECTION OF SCRIPTURE?
• THE NAME, FAITHFUL AND TRUE, IS REPEATED FROM REV 3:14
• IT IS REPEATED HERE TO SHOW THAT CHRIST HAS FULFILLED ALL HIS PROMISES SO FAR
• THE WORD OF GOD (13) (JOH 1:1,14)
• THIS IS THE ETERNAL NAME OF JESUS.
• KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (16)
• HE ALSO HAS A NAME THAT NO ONE KNOWS EXCEPT HIMSELF
• THE IMPORTANCE OF A NAME IN SCRIPTURE REVEALS CHARACTER. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. GOD’S NAME WAS CONSIDERED SO SACRED THAT MAN WAS UNWORTHY TO EVEN MENTION IT. JESUS CHRIST WILL COME BACK AS THE PERSONIFICATION OF THE VERY NAME OF GOD (JEHOVAH IN HEBREW)
• THIS ALSO INDICATES THAT THERE IS STILL MUCH ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST THAT WE DON’T YET KNOW AND HAVE AN ETERNITY TO DISCOVER.
• READ JDG 13:18 ISA 9:6
• HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL, INCOMPREHENSIBLE.
• ITS MEANING IS THAT HE IS INDESCRIBABLE.
• HIS NAME IS ON HIS THIGH. THAT IS WHERE THE CORNERS OF THE JEWISH PRAYER SHAWL WOULD FALL. AT THE CORNERS WERE KNOTS TRANSLATED “FRINGES” (tzitzit) IN HEBREW. (NUM 15:38). THESE KNOTS REPRESENTED THE NAME OF GOD, JEHOVAH.
• HIS JUSTICE (11):
• HEAVEN IS OPENED NOW THAT THE TRIBULATION IS OVER. REMEMBER WHEN WE SAW HEAVEN CLOSED DURING THE LAST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION UNTIL THE PLAGUES WERE COMPLETED? (REV 11:6)
• CHRIST MAKES WAR = CHRIST COMES TO FIGHT AGAINST THE ANTI-CHRIST, THE FALSE PROPHET, ALL THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED THE MARK, AND ALL THOSE WHO COME TO FIGHT IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• HIS KNOWLEDGE (12):
• EYES LIKE A FLAME OF FIRE = DISCERNMENT OF THE VERY HEART AND NATURE OF MAN
• THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTIC WHEN IT COMES TO JUSTICE IN JUDGMENT WHERE GOD JUDGES THE INNER DEPTHS OF THE HEART.
• HIS AUTHORITY (12):
• ON HIS HEAD MANY CROWNS = HE NOW HAS THE CROWNS OF ALL THE NATIONS FOR THE 1,000 YEARS.
• HIS WRATH (13):
• VESTURE DIPPED IN BLOOD = THE BLOOD OF HIS ENEMIES AT THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON (SEE ISA 63:1-3)
• HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD = THE NAME IS GIVEN IN JOHN 1 SO THAT THERE CAN BE NO MISTAKE THAT THE BABY BORN IN THE MANGER IN JOHN’S GOSPEL AND KING THAT COMES IN REVELATION ARE THE VERY SAME PERSON.
• WHO COMES WITH JESUS WHEN HE RETURNS TO EARTH?
• HE COMES WITH ARMIES THAT WERE IN HEAVEN = ALL RESURRECTED BELIEVERS FROM ALL HISTORICAL TIME. (JUDE 14)
• ALL RAPTURED BELIEVERS FROM THE CHURCH AGE..
• ALL RESURRECTED OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS WHO NOW RECEIVE THEIR NEW RESURRECTED BODY AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• ALL DEAD TRIBULATION BELIEVERS WHO NOW RECEIVE THEIR NEW RESURRECTED BODY.
• HE STRIKES THE NATIONS (15):
• OUT OF HIS MOUTH = JUDGMENT IS EXECUTED BY CHRIST’S WORD WHICH IS A SHARP SWORD.
• ALL IN LEAGUE WITH THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL BE KILLED IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON IS THE DEATH OF ALL NON-BELIEVERS LEFT ON EARTH.
• HE SHEPHERDS THE NATIONS:
• CHRIST WILL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON (15) = CHRIST WILL RULE THE NATIONS FOR A 1,000 YEAR PERIOD (MILLENNIUM) PERSONALLY. IT WILL BE A PERIOD OF LAW JUSTLY ADMINISTERED. THIS PERIOD FOLLOWS THE PERIOD OF GRACE IN WHICH WE NOW LIVE.
• THE SHEPHERD’S ROD IS A COMFORT TO BELIEVERS AND A TERROR TO NON-BELIEVERS.
• HE TREADS ON THE NATIONS (15):
• TREADETH THE WINEPRESS OF THE FIERCENESS OF THE WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD = THE JUDGMENT IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON IS PICTURED AS GRAPES BEING CRUSHED IN THE WINEPRESS AND THEIR COLOR STAINING THE GARMENTS OF THE ONE WHO TREADS UPON THEM.
• THE SUPPER OF THE GREAT GOD (17) = A WORD CONTRAST TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.
• NOTICE THREE THINGS ABOUT THE COMING OF THESE BIRDS:
• =1= THE POSITION OF THE ANGEL
• READ JOE 2:31
• PERHAPS THE POSITION OF THE ANGEL BRINGS THE DARKNESS DESCRIBED IN MAT 24 WHEN THE SUN IS TURNED TO DARKNESS.
• =2= THE PROCLAMATION TO THE BIRDS
• ON SIX PREVIOUS OCCASIONS IN THE BOOK, A LOUD VOICE OCCURRED. (6:10 ; 7:2 ; 7:10 ; 10:3 ; 14:15 ; 18:2 )
• THE LOUD VOICE ALWAYS INTRODUCES SOME IMPORTANT MESSAGE OR EVENT AFFECTING THE VENGEANCE AND VICTORY OF GOD.
• =3= THE PURPOSE OF THE GATHERING OF THE BIRDS
• THE SUPPER OF THE GREAT GOD IS GOD’S WAY OF CLEANING UP THE EARTH OF ALL THE DEAD AFTER ARMAGEDDON.
• THE CITY OF GAMALA IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE SEA OF GALILEE. IN THIS AREA THERE ARE NESTS OF BIRDS OF PREY. THE ISRAELI AIRFORCE AVOIDS FLIGHTS OVER THIS AREA (THE GAMALA BIRD PRESERVE), IN THE NESTING SEASON. AS A RESULT, THERE ARE NOW MORE BIRDS OF PREY THAN EVER BEFORE. (BUZZARDS, VULTURES, ETC.)
• THE BEAST = THE ANTI-CHRIST (19)
• AGAINST HIM THAT SAT ON THE HORSE, AND AGAINST HIS ARMY = AGAINST JESUS AND THE RAPTURED BELIEVERS WHO COME WITH HIM TO BATTLE.
• THE ANTI-CHRIST, THE FALSE PROPHET AND ALL NON-BELIEVERS BEGIN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON FIGHTING NATION AGAINST NATION, ONE AGAINST THE OTHER. HOWEVER, WHEN CHRIST APPEARS IN THE SKY, ALL WILL FIGHT AGAINST HIS COMING.
• THE LAKE OF FIRE (20) = ETERNAL HELL OR ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD.
• WE WILL DISCUSS THIS MORE FULLY LATER IN OUR STUDY.
• THE REMNANT = FOLLOWERS OF THE ANTI-CHRIST ARE PHYSICALLY KILLED IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON. THEY ARE NOT THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE AT THIS TIME FOR THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN THROUGH THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT (21)

HOMEWORK
THE EVENT OF THE 2ND COMING OF CHRIST
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF REVELATION 19
• SPEND SOME EXTRA SPECIAL TIME THIS WEEK IN WORSHIPING AND PRAISING YOUR COMING KING OF KINGS.

• PREPARATION FOR THE EVENT OF THE 2ND COMING OF CHRIST
• READ THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES AND MAKE ANY NOTES THAT YOU FIND INTERESTING ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
• MAT 24:29-31

• ZEC 14:1-15

• JOE 3:9-17

• ISA 13:6-16

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 19:11