Revelation
Chapter 19
After this, I heard what sounded like the loud singing of a great assembly in heaven:
Alleluia! Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,
for his judgments are true and just.
He has condemned the great harlot who corrupted the world with her adultery.
He has avenged his servants’ blood, shed by her hand, in harlotry.
Once more, they sang: Alleluia! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever!
The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God seated on the throne, saying, Amen! Alleluia!
The Wedding of the Lamb
A voice came from the throne: “Praise our God, all you, his servants, all you who revere him, both small and great!”
Then, I heard what sounded like a great crowd, like the roaring of the waves, like peals of thunder, answering:
Alleluia! The LORD now reigns,
our LORD, the Master of the universe!
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
This is the time to celebrate the wedding of the Lamb,
his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
is given her to wear.
This linen stands for the good works of the holy ones.
Then, the angel told me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the wedding of the Lamb.” And he went on, “These are true words of God.”
As I fell down at his feet, to worship him, he said to me, “Don’t! I am but a servant, like you and your brothers, who utter the testimonies of Jesus (these testimonies of Jesus are proclaimed through the spirit of the prophets). Worship God alone.”
The Victorious Rider
Then, I saw heaven opened, and a white horse appeared. Its rider is the Faithful and True; he judges and wages just wars.
His eyes are flames of fire; he wears many crowns, and written on him is his own name, which no one can understand, except himself.
He is clothed in a cloak drenched in blood. His name is the Word of God.
The armies of heaven, clothed in pure white linen, follow him on white horses.
A sharp sword comes out of his mouth. With it, he will strike the nations, for he must rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the burning wrath of God, the Master of the universe.
This is why this title is written on his cloak and on his thigh: King of kings and LORD of lords.
I also saw an angel standing on the sun. He cried out with a loud voice to all the birds of the air, “Come here, to the great feast of God.
Come and eat the flesh of kings, of generals and of the mighty; come and devour the soldier and his horse, flesh of all, both free and slaves, both small and great.”
Then, I saw the beast with the kings of the earth and their armies, gathered together to fight against him who rides on the horse, and his army.
But the beast was captured, with the false prophet who served it and performed signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its statue. The two were thrown, alive, into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, and all
the rest were killed by the sword, which comes from the mouth of the rider who mounts the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Commentaries
Fall of Babylon.
The author laments the fall of Rome with a tone similar to those in ancient Greek tragedies. The friends of Rome—kings, princes, merchants, pilots, navigators, and sailors—each take turns expressing their grief. In stark contrast, Christians are called to rejoice. But it is not the ruin of Babylon that should be celebrated (why gloat over others’ suffering?). Instead, what is being celebrated is the final restoration of divine justice. This city primarily symbolizes Rome, the empire’s capital. However, the symbol of the Apocalypse also applies to every idolatrous and self-sufficient city—a city that builds a closed system for the privileged few, characterized by unrestrained consumption, apathy toward the poor and oppressed, and a disregard for human life.
The Wedding of the Lamb.
From heaven, the rescued follow the fate of Christians. There is close communion between heaven and earth. The heavenly Church now celebrates its triumph over the great Babylon. A huge crowd praises God. A voice coming from the throne urges the recognition of God. The saints are invited, and, in alternating order, the small and the great. All humanity, without exception, is called to the universal praise of “our God.” The power of Christ’s love wins over the evil of this world. These words are so profound that John falls to his knees, overwhelmed and reverent. But it is not an angel, but God himself who is the guarantee of such joy and hope for Christians. He alone is to be worshiped. The message is brief but holds immense significance for the apostolic life of the Church. Jesus Christ continues to witness today (He is the only “faithful witness” 1:5) before the world through the presence of his Christian prophets, whom the Holy Spirit inspires and strengthens.
The Victorious Rider.
In this dense account (11-21), where each sentence resembles a prophetic proclamation from the Old Testament, the definitive victory of Jesus Christ is declared. Christians also take part in this triumph. We thus witness the triumphant victory of our Lord alongside the Church over the forces of evil. It is important to notice—as we read through the book—the progression in the unstoppable destruction of evil. After the fall of the evil empire, symbolized by the great prostitute (17:1-18), the great Babylon (18:1-19:4), and the two beasts (20), we now see the destruction of the greatest enemy: the great dragon. He is called by his most well-known names in the Bible: the ancient serpent, the Devil, and Satan.