Revelation Chapter 19

UNIVERSAL REJOICING (Rev 19:1-10)

Brother Shallieu’s thoughts on Verses 5 and 6:

“And a voice came out of the throne, saying, praise our God, all you his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering’s, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.”

The voice coming out of the Father’s throne (see Verse 4) is subsequently found to be Jesus’. The fact that the praise commanded is to be offered unto “our God” (that is, the God of the one speaking and on behalf of his Bride) rules out the possibility of the voice being God’s. Jesus is in the same throne as the Father. The passage “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me [Jesus] in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Rev. 3:21) indicates the Church will be included with Jesus in this setting of Chapter 19 where The Christ speaks with authority. Primarily Jesus does the speaking, but the Church shares in that honor (Matt. 26:64).

The words coming from the throne enjoin everyone to worship Jehovah. The Church is not included in the original cry (Verses 1 and 2), for they are in the throne. First, the congregation about the throne, the angelic host, praises God, and then the pronouncement goes forth from the throne itself (from Jesus and the Church) to all down below on earth, “both small and great.”

Who are the “great”?

Are they those in former positions of power and influence, such as kings, nobles, earth’s financiers, and prominent politicians?

NO.

The key to understanding this term is the time setting of Verses 5 and 6. The clue is found in the proclamation of the decree and in the joyous response: “For the Lord God omnipotent reigns.” The vision indicates the great whore has already been executed and the reign of Jehovah and His Christ has begun. At that time the “great” would refer not to those who were formerly great in worldly esteem but to those who are appointed to higher office in the earthly phase of the Kingdom of God. The “small” would be humbled mankind, and the “great” would be the Ancient Worthies (Luke 7:28; 13:28).

Verses 1 through 6 form a single and separate scenario, indicating the significance of events subsequent to the (implied) wedding of the Lamb up to the manifestation of God’s Kingdom on earth and its recognition and joyful acceptance by humanity, the “great multitude.” If this phrase applied to the Great Company, the words “both small and great” would be inappropriate. Hence a class larger than the Great Company is being addressed. (Verses 7 to 10 are parenthetical rather than sequential.)

VERSE 7 “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.”

Those of Verse 6 continue to acknowledge what has happened since the “voice from the throne” in Verse 5 told them to praise God. These are rejoicing in the fulfillment of Romans 8:19, viz.’ “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing (manifestation) of the sons of God.” The world will have great cause to focus in on the Christ after praising Jehovah. The Christ (Head and body) is its mediator, its “saviors.” (Obad. 21.)

LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD: The Mediator will understand and sympathize with the world (“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion [the Mediator] with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away”. Isa. 35:10). This is REAL cause for rejoicing.

AND GIVE THE GLORY TO HIM: — To God. This is ALWAYS the appropriate thing to do. He is, and will ultimately be, functionally the ALL IN ALL (1 Cor. 15:28.) Bringing glory to God in the eyes of the people is virtually the work of the Mediator.

(The Sinaitic has an alternate reading of “glory to THEM.” This could be explainable if directed toward bridegroom and bride; but “Him” seems a better reading in the context, referring back to the end of Verse 6.)

FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAS COME: — the completion of the Body of Christ is a reality. This is the “manifestation of the sons of God” for which all creation has waited (Rom. 8:19.)

AND HIS WIFE HAS MADE HERSELF READY: Here is the acknowledgment from the world that the ones they despised and overlooked are, indeed, “READY” to function in this noble office. (Rom. 8:19)

VERSE 8 “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.”

This verse may be John’s commentary on the words of the world as just recorded, or it may be the world’s realizing the Church’s victory and right to glory. The former fits the context better because of the next verse where John is clearly the speaker and the angel instructs him further.

AND IT WAS GIVEN TO HER: — an acknowledgment of her victory and right to claim the mantle.

TO CLOTHE HERSELF: seems better translated TO BE CLOTHED. The meaning seems to be that she receives the honor.

IN FINE LINEN, BRIGHT AND CLEAN: — actual righteousness as her justification for her new office, the world now “sees” her righteousness.

FOR FINE LINEN IS — represents

THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS: — now rewarded with the ability to have actual righteousness for the “works (which) follow with them.” (Rev. 14:13)

We will take a look at Brother Shallieu’s thoughts on Verses 7 and 8 in our next post.