Daily Scripture Reading Revelation 19:1-16
Do you ever ponder what God sees when He looks at the world? What does He think about when He looks at your society? Does He have a high or low opinion of the city or town in which you live? Many Christians think God’s opinion is formed by the number of churches in an area, or perhaps the amount of praise and adoration spoken by the people in that area.
Today’s passage lists two criteria upon which people will be judged in the end times. This gives us a high level view of what is important to God and what He notices when He looks at the societies existing upon the earth.
The 18th chapter of Revelation tells us about the destruction of a wealthy, but sinful city. Her destruction not only ended all the partying and frivolity which took place within her, but it also eliminated the livelihood of many around the world who made their living trading with her.
Rev. 19:1 ¶ After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven, saying, ¶ “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
Rev. 19:2 BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her sexual immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS SLAVES shed BY HER HAND.”
Don’t miss the two main causes of the harlot’s judgment: sexual immorality and shedding the blood of the saints.
Sexual immorality is something that is treated quite flippantly by many societies around the world. Even many churches, or so-called churches, have weakened their stance against remarriage after divorce, adultery, and sex outside of marriage. Many Christians, or so-called Christians, do not view sexual immorality as a key concern because they have bought into the lie that the church talks too much about sexual sin.
However, we see in this passage in Revelation that, at the end time, sexual immorality will be near the top of God’s concerns. That means we need to take it very seriously today.
Over the last several centuries, shedding the blood of the saints has traditionally been something that happens in Africa, Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe. However, in recent decades it is more and more happening in Western Europe and North America. The fact that God will avenge the blood of His slaves indicates what He thinks of societies where Christians are martyred for their faith.
Rev. 19:3 And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! HER SMOKE RISES UP FOREVER AND EVER.”
Rev. 19:4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
Rev. 19:5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, ¶ “Give praise to our God, all you His slaves, you who fear Him, the small and the great.”
Rev. 19:6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great crowd and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, ¶ “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Rev. 19:7 ¶ Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
The 5th chapter of Ephesians teaches us that the church is the bride of Christ.
Rev. 19:8 And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Notice the last phrase “for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints”. When we do righteous things, we are creating clothing for the bride of Christ.
Rev. 19:9 ¶ Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
Rev. 19:10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow slave with you and your brothers who have the witness of Jesus. Worship God! For the witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Rev. 19:11 ¶ Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sits on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
Rev. 19:12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; having a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself,
Look at the phrase “having a name written on Him which no one knows”.
Today, many parents choose a name for their child based on the sound of the name. They choose a name that they like. They might choose, John, Lori, or Walter. Those names may have meanings, but the meanings are not commonly known; therefore, the name of a person doesn’t communicate anything.
Contrast that with Bible times. Names were chosen to communicate meaning. For example, when Jacob and Esau were born, Jacob was holding the heel of his brother Esau. The Hebrew word “Esau” is the word for “handled”. The Hebrew word “Jacob” is the word for “heel”. In other words, the twins were named “Handled” and “Heel”. Their names communicated truth about their births.
At the end times, Christ will have a name written on Him, and no one will know the meaning of the name except Himself.
Rev. 19:13 and being clothed with a garment dipped in blood, His name is also called The Word of God.
Notice the word “also”. Christ will have multiple names.
Rev. 19:14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
Rev. 19:15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may STRIKE DOWN THE NATIONS, and He will RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; and HE TREADS THE WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF THE RAGE OF GOD, the Almighty.
Rev. 19:16 And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
These names will be written on His garment and thigh.
Many Christians think God’s opinion is formed by the number of churches in an area, or perhaps the amount of praise and adoration spoken by the people in that area. However, Revelation 19 tells us the harlot will be judged for sexual immorality and shedding the blood of the saints. This tells us those are two criteria which are very important to God, and probably the things He notices when He looks at the earth.
Is your community known for sexual immorality?
Are saints being martyred in your society?
What might God think of your culture based on sexual ethics and the safety of the saints?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”