Revelation 19:8-14

(Rev 19:8 KJV)
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Just as the bride at a wedding is dressed in white and that dress is made of the finest cloth possible, the body of Christ is symbolically dressed in the finest of linen, which is clean and white. The second half of the verse tells us that the fine linen is the righteousness of the believer and that righteousness is the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ for not even the true believer has any righteousness until they become saved and indwelled by the Holy Spirit. (Isa 61:3 KJV) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

(Rev 19:9 KJV)
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

John is now being commanded to write this great commendation that those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb are blessed. It must be noted that a person is called to the marriage supper and cannot will themselves in as those who believe in free will. (Mat 22:12-13 KJV) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. {13} Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Only the truly called are the true guests of the Lamb. All are gathered together in heaven at the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is not a big physical feast as some commentators try to sell us but it is symbolic for the body of Christ as the wife and the bridegroom who is the Lord Jesus Christ are married by reason of His sacrifice on Calvary. This marriage supper is symbolic as the body of Christ is now in full righteous regalia in Heaven and now enjoys the most intimate fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Then the messenger tells John that these sayings are the true sayings of God and are not the sayings of anyone else.

(Rev 19:10 KJV)
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Now here John is prostrating himself before the messenger that is giving him the information. Now I am not so sure that this is an angel for several reasons. The first is that he calls himself “thy fellowservant.” This would indicate that this person is of like status with John. The word in the Greek is “sundoulos” which means that he is a fellow servant as the text states. The prefix ”sun” in the Greek adds the idea of “being a servant together with others.” Now an angel does not have the same status as a believer. Then he says he is “of thy brethren.” Angels are not of the brethren, only believers are. Then he states that he has the “testimony of Jesus.” That phrase is used five times in Revelation. Rev. 1: 2 & 9 refers to John. Revelation 12:17 refers to believers in general. In Rev. 19:10 it is used twice. Therefore it is highly probable that another brother is giving John this present information. Angels do not carry anything to do with salvation because they were never redeemed as the Elect of God were. Then in the last phrase we read “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The reason for the spirit of prophecy is to bear witness throughout the world for the Lord Jesus Christ. Angels were never witnesses for Christ only the redeemed of God are the true witnesses. Every true believer has the spirit of prophecy as all true believers witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. John is being told by this person not to worship him. In fact, John is being commanded not to worship. Maybe the information that John received was so overwhelming to him that he prostrated himself in front of this person. This is also a very important verse and teaches us that we are never to worship a bible teacher or any human being on earth as so many Christians today have relegated their minds to teachers and preachers.

(Rev 19:11 KJV)
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Here John begins another vision. If there is one thing we can definitely know about apocalyptic imagery is that it changes very rapidly. Now we go from the marriage supper of the Lamb to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. John sees the heaven opened and the Lord Jesus Christ is descending to earth pictured riding on a white horse. The white horse represents power and the color represents purity. We are also given the names of the Lord Jesus Christ as Faithful and True, and here we are told that He judges righteously and makes war. In this verse we are looking at another picture of Armageddon which we previously saw in Revelation 16:16. The reason we can associate this verse with Armageddon is because the Lord Jesus is coming on a white horse to judge and “make war.” Armageddon is the final battle between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. The second coming of Christ was also predicted by the Apostle Paul. (1 Th 4:16-17 KJV) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Matthew also spoke of the second coming of Christ. (Mat 24:29-30 KJV) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: {30} And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Notice in verse 30 we see the tribes of the earth mourn. We saw the people of the earth mourning in Revelation 17 & 18 when the great whore was judged and those who placed their faith in her system were also being judged.

(Rev 19:12 KJV)
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Here John gives another apocalyptic image of Christ. His eyes were as a flame of fire which means that His eyes will see everything and those eyes will see everything pertaining to the final judgment. On His head were many crowns which means that we are being told that He is King of Kings with total and absolute sovereignty. Then we are told that He had a name which only He knew and was kept secret. (Deu 29:29 KJV) The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. God has revealed many things to His children but this name has been held in secret for some reason known only to God.

(Rev 19:13 KJV)
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

The clothing which He is wearing has been dipped or immersed in blood. It may be referencing two things. The first, is that Christ shed His blood for His people and He is coming back for them in one final gathering. The second implication may mean that He is coming in judgment and the vesture dipped in blood shows that He has been judging the great whore and all her people. The blood represents the judgment of death which is pointing to the second death into the lake of fire. Christ is further identified as the living Word of God. (John 1:1 KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:14 KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. It is important that these names be revealed so as not to confuse the Lord Jesus Christ with the imitation rider on the white horse in Revelation 6.

(Rev 19:14 KJV)
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

With the heavens opened the Lord Jesus Christ is leading a great army and this is the army of the believers. We can know this because they are upon white horses and clothed with fine linen, which is white and clean. This description is one of those who have been saved. In Revelation 6:11, the martyrs were given white robes.

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