The Conqueror.

[Marilyn C]

BABYLON TO JERUSALEM

When the city of Babylon has been destroyed then all of heaven resounds with the praises
& acclamation to God. There is the great multitude of people, the 24 elders (representing the Body of Christ) & Christ`s living ministries; all acclaim that God`s judgments are true & righteous, all acclaim salvation & glory, honour & power be unto the Lord God.


`After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying
“Alleluia! Salvation & glory & honour & power to the Lord our God!
For true and righteous are His judgments,
because He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her fornication: (idolatry)

& He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”
Again they said, “Alleluia! And her smoke rises up forever & ever!”
`And the 24 elders & the 4 living creatures fell down
& worshipped God who sat on the throne, saying,
“Amen! Alleluia!”`
(Rev. 19: 1 – 4)


However although Babylon has fallen the Anti-Christ, possessed of Satan, continues his warfare against God. But the cry goes out that the Lord God all-powerful reigns.

` Then a voice came from the throne saying,
Praise our God, all you His servants & those who fear Him, both small & great!”
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude,
as the sound of many waters & as the sound of mighty thundering,
saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!”
(Rev. 19: 5 – 6)


The Anti-Christ then moves his control to Jerusalem, the beloved city. Here he takes over
& prepares his great army of the world to come together to Armageddon.


`he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas
& the glorious holy mountain;
Yet he shall come to his end, & no one will help him.`
(Dan. 11: 45)



The people of Israel then flee to the mountains round Petra in the south. They cry out to
God for deliverance. They have not worshipped the `beast,` the Anti-Christ or taken his
mark, but await their deliverer, their Messiah.


`when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.
Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains,
let those who are in the midst of her depart,
& let not those who are in the country enter her.`
(Luke 21 : 20 & 21)

 

[Marilyn C]

Israel waiting deliverance.

Israel is the `wife,` of Jehovah. He is called her `husband.` This is a symbolic picture of
the relationship God has with His people, Israel. He is joined to them in a covenant purpose, & although they had turned from Him, God is bringing them back to Himself through the Lord Jesus, their Messiah.

`your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name;
& your Redeemer is the Holy one of Israel; ..`
(Isa. 54: 5)

`As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.`
(Isa. 62: 5)



Thus we see Israel, the `bride / wife,` awaiting the `bridegroom, ` their Messiah. They have
made themselves ready by `righteous acts,` obeying God`s laws from the heart & looking to Him for their deliverance. No wonder there is such great joy in heaven anticipating this momentous reuniting of Israel & God.


“Let us be glad & rejoice & give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
& His wife has made herself ready.”
And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean & bright, for the fine linen represents
the righteous acts of the saints.(Israel)
Then he said to me, “Write: `Blessed are those who are called to the
marriage supper of the Lamb!”
(Rev. 19: 7 – 9)



The `marriage supper of the Lamb` is the connecting of Israel in right relationship to God again. This takes place when Israel realises at last that Jesus, the one whom they crucified, is their Messiah. The Lord reveals Himself to them after the battle of Armageddon.



`And I will pour on the house of David & on the inhabitants of Jerusalem
the Spirit of grace & supplication;
then they will look on Me whom they have pierced;
they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son,
& grieve for Him as one grieves for a first-born.`
(Zech. 12: 10)



How wonderful to know that God has not forgotten His people Israel. What Jesus foretold to them, His prophetic words will come to pass.


And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
And I fell at his feet to worship him.
But he said to me, “See that you do not do that!
I am your fellow servant, & of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus.

Worship God!

for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

(Rev. 19: 9 – 10)

 

[Marilyn C]

The Deliverer

The Lord Jesus Christ, Israel`s deliverer, is now seen coming from heaven in power & great glory. He comes in full array of His majesty & authority. We are given a wonderful description of Him revealing His Holy character & great authority over all principalities & powers in the unseen & upon earth.


`Then I saw heaven opened, & behold, a white horse.
And He who sat on him was called Faithful & True,
& in righteousness He judges & makes war.
His eyes were like a flame of fire, & on His head were many crowns.
He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, & His name is called the Word of God.`
(Rev. 19: 11 – 13)



White horse – `white,` is from Gk. word `leukos,` meaning light, glory.

`horse,` is a symbol for power & strength. (Ps. 147: 10)


Faithful & True – Faithful is the first description of our Lord. (Rev. 1: 5)

True, truthful. He is to be trusted.


In Righteousness He judges & makes war – Equity, justice in character & action. (Rev. 15: 3 & 4)


His eyes like a flame – penetrating vision, seeing people`s motives. (Rev. 2: 23)


His head with many crowns – great authority & rulership in many realms. (Eph. 1: 20 & 21)


His name, the Word of God – the expression of God made manifest. (John 1: 1 & 14)




`Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword,
that with it He should strike the nations.
And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.
He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness & wrath of Almighty God.
And He has on His robe & on His thigh a name written: King of kings & Lord of lords.
(Rev. 19: 15 & 16)



A sharp sword – the word of God in judgment. (Heb. 4: 12 & 13)

Rod of iron – immediate consequences for actions. (Ps. 2: 9 Zech. 14: 17 & 18)

Winepress of wrath of God – the valley of decision, the valley of Jehoshaphat. (Joel 3: 12 – 14)

Robe – symbol of authority. (Ex. 28: 4)

Name, King of kings & Lord of lords – the ultimate in power & authority over every rule in every dominion. (Eph. 1: 20 & 21)

 

[Marilyn C]

The Army

The Lord comes with His army to judge & make war against all rebellious mankind.


`And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen,
white & clean, followed Him on white horses.`
(Rev. 19: 14)


Who are these heavenly armies? There has been much confusion & error concerning them.
However as we study the scriptures carefully, God`s word clearly tells us who they are.

Jesus said:

`they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power & great glory.
And He will send His angels...`
(Matt. 24: 30 & 31)

`When the Son of Man comes in His glory, & all the Holy Angels with Him...`
(Matt. 25: 31)

`the Son of man ...comes in His own glory, & in His Father`s glory
& in the glory of the Holy Angels.`
(Luke 9: 26)


Some other scriptures speak of the Lord coming with His holy ones to do battle against the nations.


`Then the Lord, my God, will come, & all the holy ones with Him.` (Zech. 14: 5 NAS)
`Behold the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones.` (Jude v. 14 NAS)

Holy ones – from the Heb. `quodos,` sacred, holy. From the Gk. `hagio,` also sacred, holy.


Most Bible interpretations have `holy ones` or `holy angels,` however a couple of versions have written `saints,` & this has caused some confusion. However if we read all scriptures on this subject it becomes quite clear that it is the Lord Jesus, Israel`s Messiah, coming to earth with His Holy Angels to make war & to deliver Israel.



This heavenly angelic army is described as wearing garments of fine linen that are white & clean. This is the description of the angels previously coming out of the temple in heaven. They symbolically had garments also of linen, white & clean. This was to distinguish them as holy angels & not demonic angels.


`linen` from the Gk word `katharos,` - clean, clear, pure.


Thus this heavenly army, the angelic hosts, are God`s holy angelic army that comes with the Lord Jesus Christ in power & great glory.

 

[Marilyn C]

Armageddon

The call goes out for the climax of the ages when the Lord gathers the rebellious together & deals with them. The details of this event are throughout God`s word.


`Then I saw an angel standing in the sun;
& he cried with a loud voice to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven,
“Come & gather together for the supper of the great God,
that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men,
the flesh of horses & of those who sit on them, & the flesh of all people, free & slave, both small & great.”
(Rev. 19: 17 & 18)


The world`s armies have gathered at Armageddon, just north of Israel. (Rev. 16: 16) It is a great plain that stretches right across Israel from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan river. It is also a strategic centre as it is the gateway to Israel from three continents.


From here the armies of the world sweep through the valley of Jezreel & then through Samaria conquering and subduing every town & village, exterminating all Israelis enroute. Finally this mighty army will encompass the city of Jerusalem, which will eventually be overwhelmed, conquered & looted. (Luke 21: 20)

`And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, & their armies,
gathered together to make war against Him
who sat on the horse & against His army.`
(Rev. 19: 19)



The Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings & Lord of Lords, then comes from heaven with His angelic army in power & great glory.(Rev. 19: 11) They go to Bozrah in Edom, where many Israelities have hidden (Isa. 63: 1) then on to Mount Zion in Jerusalem. (Isa. 31: 40)


`So the Lord of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion & for its hill.
Like birds flying about, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem.
Defending, He will also deliver it;
passing over, He will preserve it.`
(Isa. 31: 4 –8)


Passing over the valley of Jehoshaphat, (Joel 3: 2) to the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14: 4) the Lord deals with the beast, the false prophet & the armies of the world. (Zech. 14: 12)


`Then the beast was captured, & with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence,
by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast.
These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the rest were killed with the sword
which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse.
And all the birds were filled with their flesh.`
(Rev. 19: 20 & 21)