Revelation 19 : 1-16 (Daily Bread of 30/8/2017)

JESUS CHRIST COMES BACK FROM HEAVEN

Key verse 19: 7

1.      Babylon had fallen on the eve of Jesus' coming (1-7)

So, myriads of angels congregate to celebrate the triumph of God over the great prostitute. The large crowd exclaims "Alleluia" (1,3). There are 24 elders, 

4 living beings, redeemed and martyrs. This word « alleluia » is not found elsewhere in the New Testament, and it celebrates the absolute triumph of God Almighty ; the sinners of Babylon have disappeared and the wicked devil has stopped his reign. The word « amen » is the fervent compliance of a soul to God’s sovereign will.

2) The marriage supper of the Lamb celebrated in Heaven (7-9)

Who is the spouse ? Israel was named the bride of God and the church the bride of Christ. Here it’s the bride of Christ who has poured his blood as the Lamb of God. Aspiring for a long time to join the Spouse, she units to him. Taken away the eve of the great tribulation, she participates to the supper before the removal of the Lord from the earth. The church must be prepared, but his part is restricted, because she is made just through Christ’s justice acquired by Christ in the cross, justice imputed by faith without personal merit. But this gratuitous work doesn’t allow us to flee in the wait-and-see. The bride must « work for her salvation with fear and trembling » and « pursue sanctification without which no one will see the Lord ». Then, the joy of the Church in encountering the Spouse will be inexpressible. Incidentally, John loses the spirit, worships the angel, but the true object of worship is Jesus, the Lamb of God

3) Christ comes back from Heaven (11-16)

The sky is fully opened, because Christ will appear and and will come back on the earth. He comes on the back of a white horse, as a symbol of purity and equity. He is called the Faithful and the True. He never changes and he is absolute. His eyes are like a flame and he is crowned with a diadem. He has a mysterious name that none know. Only God knows his Son. He is dressed with blood and the saints with a white clothing. Christ is winner of the nations which fight against him as he treads a chariot, therefore he is the King of kings, the Lord of lords (15). An angel had gone through the sky to proclaim the Gospel of the Eternal kingdom of Christ; here, an angel is in the sun to announce the destruction of the armies of the Antichrist gathered in Armagedon. The punishment of the armies of the Antichrist is ruthless. All the prophets had predicted it. The unquestionable judgment falls before the glorious hour of millenium (20-21)