CHAPTER 19
“Alleluia!*
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,
He has condemned the great harlot
who corrupted the earth with her harlotry.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”a
“Alleluia! Smoke will rise from her forever and ever.”b
The Victory Song.*
“Praise our God, all you his servants,
[and] you who revere him, small and great.”c
“Alleluia!
The Lord has established his reign,
[our] God, the almighty.
and give him glory.
For the wedding day of the Lamb* has come,
his bride has made herself ready.d
a bright, clean linen garment.”e
(The linen represents the righteous deeds of the holy ones.)*
* [19:1, 3, 4, 6] Alleluia: found only here in the New Testament, this frequent exclamation of praise in the Hebrew psalms was important in Jewish liturgy.
* [19:5–10] A victory song follows, sung by the entire church, celebrating the marriage of the Lamb, the union of the Messiah with the community of the elect.
* [19:7] The wedding day of the Lamb: symbol of God’s reign about to begin (Rev 21:1–22:5); see note on Rev 10:7. His bride: the church; cf. 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:22–27. Marriage is one of the biblical metaphors used to describe the covenant relationship between God and his people; cf. Hos 2:16–22; Is 54:5–6; 62:5; Ez 16:6–14. Hence, idolatry and apostasy are viewed as adultery and harlotry (Hos 2:4–15; Ez 16:15–63); see note on Rev 14:4.
* [19:8] See note on Rev 14:12.
* [19:9] Blessed: see note on Rev 1:3.
* [19:10] The spirit of prophecy: as the prophets were inspired to proclaim God’s word, so the Christian is called to give witness to the Word of God (Rev 19:13) made flesh; cf. Rev 1:2; 6:9; 12:17.
* [19:11–16] Symbolic description of the exalted Christ (cf. Rev 1:13–16) who together with the armies of heaven overcomes the beast and its followers; cf. Rev 17:14.
* [19:12] A name: in Semitic thought, the name conveyed the reality of the person; cf. Mt 11:27; Lk 10:22.
* [19:13] Had been dipped in: other Greek manuscripts and versions read “had been sprinkled with”; cf. Rev 19:15. The Word of God: Christ is the revelation of the Father; cf. Jn 1:1, 14; 1 Jn 2:14.
* [19:15] The treading of the wine press is a prophetic symbol used to describe the destruction of God’s enemies; cf. Is 63:1–6; Jl 4:13.
* [19:17–21] The certainty of Christ’s victory is proclaimed by an angel, followed by a reference to the mustering of enemy forces and a fearsome description of their annihilation. The gruesome imagery is borrowed from Ez 39:4, 17–20.
* [19:20] Beast,false prophet: see notes on Rev 13. The fiery pool,sulfur: symbol of God’s punishment (Rev 14:10; 20:10, 14–15), different from the abyss; see note on Rev 9:1.
a. [19:2] Dn 3:27 / Jer 51:48–49.
e. [19:8] 15:6; Is 61:10; Mt 22:11–12.
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