Response to Heaven

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Hymn of Phrase
["Click here for Revelation 19:1-5"]

The fall of Babylon being complete, we begin with the celebration of triumph. In Chapter 18:20, the Angel with "great authority", said, "Rejoice, O Heaven, O Saints and Apostles and Prophets for God has given judgment for you against her." So now they gladly respond. A mighty voice of a great multitude in heaven joins together and says, "Hallelujah! Salvation and Glory and Power belong to our God."
What does Hallelujah mean? It literly means, "Phrase ye Jehovah." It is an exhortation to worship. It is taken from the Egyptian word, Hallel, (Hall-el) which was the name of hymns of phrase. The hymn used by Jesus and His Disciples at the last supper, was from the Hallel. They are Psalms 113-118. Others have been added over the years.
Salvation, glory and power was the expressions that they used to glorify God and give thanks unto Him. These expressions had a two-fold purpose:

It gave credit to God for the truth of His word and the righteousness of His judgment, especially in the destruction of Babylon
It caused pain to Babylon each time they shouted. Each time her fire burned more fiercely.

Will there be any joy in heaven over the destruction of our enemies? No, only over the destruction of the evil that caused them to be enemies.
In phrasing God they thanked Him for what they had received from Him and what He had yet in store for them, Past, Present and Future.

Past.... Grace. Their names, like ours, were written in the "Lambs Book of God" from the beginning of time, because of His Grace.
Present.... Pardon. We receive daily, His pardon, for we sin daily.
Future.... Salvation. Our future is assured, salvation is a gift of God and is eternal.

So these three gifts, Grace, Pardon and Salvation are three-dimensional.
Who was in this multitude that sang and phrased God in heaven? The Angels joined in with the 24 Elders and the 4 creatures, Christ's Church and His Ministers. Back in the Throne Room where we started our study, they fell down and worshipped God saying, "Amen, Hallelujah", phrase God all you His servants, you who fear Him great and small.

Marriage Hymn

Then John heard again the voice of a great multitude. This time they sound like mighty thunder peals and mighty waters. I like what Matthew Henry says about this, "In heaven there is no "discord". We all sing "in key", none to harsh, none to sour, none to loud, none out of tune, all in perfect harmony."

Now what is the occasion that prompts this celebration? The reign and dominion of God who has redeemed His Church and is now, by public proclamation, betrothing Himself. This is called, "The marriage of the Lamb". This is what is called the "general resurrection". Jesus spoke of this in John 14:3, "I will go and prepare a place for you....I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am you may be also."

Spoken of here are the events of the Second Coming. At death our spirits go to be with the Lord, our bodies back to dust from which they came. At the general resurrection, our bodies will be resurrected and we shall be like our risen Lord, without sin, without sorrow, without sickness, hunger, fear, hate or pride. We shall be the Bride of Christ. Clothed in white linen which is the righteousness of God, imputed to us when we accepted Christ and in fine linen instead of the filthy rags we deserve.

An Angel tells John, "Happy" or "blessed" are those who are invited to the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb". Your invitation was written when your name was put in the Lambs book of Life.

Matthew 22:4 describes this supper. "Tell those who are invited that the oxen and the calves are ready, come to the Marriage Feast." Matthew also tells us that some will try to get in who were not invited. They will be noticeable because they will not be properly dressed, they will be without the "wedding garment", the "white linen" spoken about above and they will be bound, hand and foot, and cast into outer darkness where men will weep and gnash their teeth.

John was then assured that these were the true words of God and John them realized that he had seem that for which he had long only hoped for. So grateful was John that he fell down at the feet of the Angel and worshipped him.

To John, this was a proper position of worship, but it did not set well with the Angel. "You must not do that", the Angel said to John. You must not worship the one who brings you good news. The Angel explains why, "I am a fellow servant like you and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus."

What does this tell us about Angels?

They and we are equal in office but not in nature.
We both have the testimony of Jesus.
They and we have a charge to witness of Him.

It also tells us that John had the "Spirit of Prophecy" which gave him a great responsibility to witness of what he had seen and heard.

What else does this tell us?

Worship God and Him only.
Do not worship, as is the practice of some, the elements of the Lords Supper, Saints or Angels.
Jesus should not be worshipped by those who do not believe He is the Son of God, those who do not believe that He was divinely conceived. They stand convicted of idolatry by this messenger (Angel) of God.

This ends the seven visions of the fall of the Anti-christ.

The Conquering Christ

["Click here for Revelation 19:11-21"]

These events are a "timetable" of the "Dispensation of Grace".

The Conquering Christ, on the cross.
The Victorious Christ, in the resurrection.
Satan being bound for a 1000 years.
Christ's reign for a 1000 years.
Satan's reign and the destruction of that reign,
The disappearance of Heaven and Earth.
The new creation and God's Eternal Age.

Christ conquered Satan by His death on the cross. In this vision, the conquest is symbolically illustrated as a great battle. As soon as the marriage feast is over, Christ is called out to do battle and destroy Satan. This is the great battle of Armageddon.

Notice how Christ is described:

As one coming from heaven which is the seat of His Kingdom and His throne and the source of His power and authority.
As one riding on a "white horse". This was symbolic of His assurance
As one who is faithful and true. True to His covenant and to His promise.
As one who is righteous in all of His judgments.
As one who has great insight. (foreknowledge) Here He knows the strengths and weaknesses of his enemy.
As one who had many crowns for He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
As one whose armor was dipped in blood, either His own blood which purchased this victory on the cross or the blood of His enemies over which He has always prevailed.
From His mouth issued a sharp sword symbolic of His word. It will condemn and judge His enemies.
On His robe will be written a name, a name of authority King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

And what is His name? "The Word of God." (John 1:1) In the beginning was the Word and in the end will be the Word. In between He came into the world as "the light that shines in the darkness". He died as the "expiation" (atonement) of our sins and purchased, for us, victory over Satan.

Now lets look at His army:

A very large one. All the armies of heaven, made up of the Angels and the Saints, the chosen, the called and the faithful.
Dressed in fine linen, white and pure. The "righteousness" of God.
Mounted on white horses again symbolic of the assurance of victory.

Quite an imposing picture of the Conquering Christ and His army.

We have a picture here of total destruction of the Anti-christ and an invitation to birds to come and eat of their flesh.

The battle is between Christ and the Anti-christ. It has always been thus. The Anti-christ is headed by the Beast and the False Prophet who have won over the kings of the earth. It is the powers of Hell against the powers of Heaven. The outcome of this battle was settled once and for all on Calvary. The victory was gained and the Beast and the False Prophet are cast into the "burning lake ". Thus rendering them incapable of molesting the church anymore.

Notice their followers are executed also. There will be no excuse for those who fight under the banner of Satan. They will perish with the Anti-christ. Psalm 2 says, "Be wise now therefore, you Kings, be instructed you rulers of the world, kiss the Son less He be angry and you perish."

This destroys the false doctrine of those who believe that ultimately, all will be saved. We see from this that there will be no second chance after death and no second chance for those who are not present at the harvest of the "wheat".

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