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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 19
Verse Commentaries:
Chapter Level Commentary:
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired but it is the key to following the original author's intent which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO Rev_19:1-21
A. The chapter division in this section of Revelation was made in an inappropriate place (chapter divisions, paragraph divisions, verse divisions, capitalizations, and punctuation are not part of the inspired original Greek text). Rev_19:1-10 is obviously the concluding remarks about the destruction of the great whore described in Rev_17:1 to Rev_18:24. As people rejoiced over the fall of Assyria and Babylon in the OT, now holy angels (cf. Rev_19:4) rejoice over the fall of Babylon, the harlot (i.e., human government apart from God), as did the believers in Rev_18:20.
B. The series of praises of Rev_19:1-10 is in response to Rev_18:20.
C. This is generally understood as being the chapter which describes the Second Coming of Christ (cf. Rev_19:11-16). But it must be seen that this chapter closes another cycle of judgment. The return of Christ is described in this chapter in very Jewish terms, which seem to be altogether different from the Pauline description of 1Th_4:14-18. The Jews expected the Messiah to return in the manner described in Rev_19:11-16. The NT describes the Second Coming in several different, but related, ways. Most Christians see the end-time in terms of Jesus' Mt. Olivet discourse (cf. Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) and Paul's discussion of the "man of sin" (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2).
D. To those suffering persecution, Jesus as Warrior, Defender, and Judge was a comforting perspective.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. List the different groups who praise God in Rev_19:1-8 and the reasons for their praise.
2. Where does the concept of the marriage feast of the Lamb come from and what are its implications?
3. What does Rev_19:10 imply about angels?
4. Explain the significance of Rev_19:11-16 as they apply to Christ.
5. What battle is described in Rev_19:17-21? How many battles are there in the End-time?