Revelation 19

[Gus Foster]

We in the Akron, Ohio area have had a Revelation bible study almost every Sabbath afternoon since 1986. This is my presentation for Sabbath, Oct 5:

REVELATION 19

Rev 19 is predicated on the events of Rev 1-18 but primarily on the 5th seal of Rev 6; heaven’s response for the cry of righteous justice from the earth’s martyrs. With the introduction of Jesus in Rev 1 and the parallelism of the churches, seals and trumpets throughout the church age we have seen the pure gospel, white, change colors as this gospel is leavened to putrid, to the Roman church and through the judgments of the trumpets on those on earth denying and persecuting the true church revealed in Rev 12. Here we see the nation Israel, whose history is a type for the church in lost truth, (from Abraham to the Cabala Pharisees) give birth to the Messiah and His church flee from persecution, in Europe to the mountains and in the Americas’ to new land.

The 5th trumpet has a devastating parallel to the 5th seal in that all the demons of hell and earth are turned loose on God’s people, as the trumpets are God’s judgment with mercy upon those who have rejected truth and those who are being sanctified as by –gold tried in the fire-

(see both EGW and RS on seals, trumpets and Rev 19)

1—HALLELUJAY – praise to God

2—Judgment on Harlot –avenged blood, servants, especially martyrs 5th Seal, Rev 6:9-11

3 - praise of demise of Harlot

4 - 24 elders -redeemed from Jesus’ resurrection – 4 living creatures - arch-angels

Ezek 1 & Isaiah 6 Worship God

5-6 - worship Father & praise

7 – Marriage of Lamb – bride in heaven (parenthetical insertion or looking ahead,

highly symbolic, metaphoric)

8 – clothe in fine linen – righteous acts of saints Rev 6:11

Martyrs – wait for justice and redemption – asleep in graves

9 – Marriage Supper – (those invited Isa 25:6; Matt 22:4; Luke 14:6)

10 – Testimony of Jesus in Spirit of Prophecy for prophets (see EGW pg 1126)

lesser degree all who live & teach gospel of Jesus (pg RS 549; Rev 11:17; 12:14)

11 – White horse rider is Jesus/ represents gospel in Rev 6:2 – with stephonos, victory

crowns – only those living and teaching 3 Angel’s (many quote warhorse Scriptures)

12 – Jesus eyes of flame of fire – righteous sight & purpose Rev 1

diadems –ruling crown KING -- written name (character) no one knows except

No one knows except Himself, no man, no angel, the depths of Jesus’ building character and trials In contrast see Pergamum church 2:17 – over comers gift

of white stone (pebble) which Jesus GIVES him – a stone combined with the total

to build New Jerusalem (gates, pillars, foundations, Rev 21:10-14, a city constructed of saints)

13 – robe of blood – CROSS – Isa 63:1-3 REVENGE FOR WITNESSES, Rev 17:6

14 – armies in fine linen, white and clean (white horses) martyrs of 6:11 soon to be

resurrected – answer to 5th seal prayer (see horses as messengers, Zech 1 & 6)

15 - justice of Father & Lamb

16 – KING & LORD result of verse 12 character and ruler of universe

17-19 – supper of harlot and friends- destroyed by Christ’s 2nd Advent – presence of holy

light ( heat )

20-21 – This lake of fire is presence of Christ – final lake of fire at 3rd Advent Rev 20:4

EGW Commentary on Revelation, Vol 2; Ranko Stefanovic, (RS) Revelation of Jesus Christ

[JoeMo]

Interesting view. Some questions:

- Rev. 19:7: Where does it say that the bride is in heaven? In the gospel allegory to the wedding feast (wise and foolish virgins), the groom travels to the bride.

-Rev 19:8: I didn't read every NT translation; but I see no reference to martyrs.

-Rev 9:10: C'mon; really! Just cuz SDAs call EGW's writings "the Spirit of Prophecy" does not link them at all to this verse. Just an SDA PR spin.

-Rev 19:20-21: Nope - I don't buy it. lake of fire is lake of fire. Furthermore, I'm not so sure about a 3rd Advent. Arguably, the millenium could take place on earth.

I'm not saying you are wrong; I'm just saying I see things differently. Not that these are salvational issues ...

Nice post!

[8thdaypriest]

Hi Joe,

It was ancient Middle Eastern custom, and Jewish custom for the marriage (the legal part) to take place at the home of the Bride, between the father of the groom, the father of the bride and two witnesses.

The bride is simply asked if she will agree to marry this man.

Then the groom and his father go back home.

The groom builds a home for his bride, usually a small house within the larger family compound. WHEN the Father of the groom believes His Son is ready, and when the home for the bride is finished - THEN

the groom travels to the home of the Bride to fetch her back to HIS family compound. Her brides maids accompany her on the trip.

This is where the wedding feast takes place.

The wedding feast is NOT THE SAME as the "legal" marriage contract. That was already done.

The wedding feast lasts 7 days. The groom with his bride go into the bridal chamber, while the guests celebrate for 7 days. When the bride and groom emerge from the bridal chamber - their respective fathers check for the evidence that she was a virgin.

That evidence verified - the marriage is now considered consummated.

www.prophecyviewpoint.com

Blessings

[Gus Foster]

For clarification on Rev 6:2 bow (Gr 5115, Toxon; a ribbon, such as a Roman victor wears) & crown (4735, stephanos, the wreath the 'bow' retains) and in Rev 19:12 crowns. (1238 diadems -- here again the Greek lexicon describes this as a long, thin silver ribbon that holds all kinds of victory and overcoming sayings, kinda like the Jewish phalactories) Of course, there are other definitions and explanations for these Greek texts.

Here is what EGW saw in Early Writings page 40:

would fall.” Then I was taken to a world which had seven moons. There I saw good old Enoch, who had been translated. On his right arm he bore a glorious palm, and on each leaf was written “Victory.” Around his head was a dazzling white wreath, and leaves on the wreath, and in the middle of each leaf was written “Purity,” and around the wreath were stones of various colors, that shone brighter than the stars, and cast a reflection upon the letters and magnified them. On the back part of his head was a bow that confined the wreath, and upon the bow was written “Holiness.” Above the wreath was a lovely crown that shone brighter than the sun. I asked him if this was the place he was taken to from the earth. He said, “It is not; the city is my home, and I have come to visit this place.” He moved about the place as if perfectly at home. I begged of my attending angel to let me remain in that place. I could not bear the thought of coming back to this dark world again. Then the angel said, “You must go back, and if you are faithful, you, with the 144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing the handiwork of God.”

So--what kind of crown do you want ??? -- I'll take those.

[Gus Foster]

We in our study have tried to make any part of Rev 19 be anything other than the 2nd advent -- nothing works. Obviously, John is looking at the total, the final, and expressing it as already happened; that is why we use terms like parenthetical insertion, etc.

There are cases in Early Writings where EGW sees angels with crowns; pages 148, 167, 169, 191, 279 & 286, thus it is not out of realm of possibility that these are angels and not redeemed. And yet, they are dressed in white linen and other characteristics to express the saved, and specifically the martyrs of the 5th seal. There is very little question it is a reference to them, especially in John's chiastic form of writing.

It is my hope that anyone can see the 5th seal refers to 'martyrs.'

About the lake of fire: it is very difficult to take verses out of a paragraph and isolate them to a different chronological time. If this is the 2nd advent, then this fire is is the presence of the Lamb that turns the earth into charcoal for a thousand years. (absolutely no 1000 years on earth in any form other than Satan walking on rocks)