19:1 AFTER THIS I heard what sounded like a mighty shout of a great crowd in heaven, exclaiming, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! Salvation and glory (splendor and majesty) and power (dominion and authority) [belong] to our God! |
19:2 Because His judgments (His condemnation and punishment, His sentences of doom) are true {and} sound and just {and} upright. He has judged (convicted, pronounced sentence, and doomed) the great {and} notorious harlot (idolatress) who corrupted {and} demoralized {and} poisoned the earth with her lewdness {and} adultery (idolatry). And He has avenged (visited on her the penalty for) the blood of His servants at her hand. |
19:3 And again they shouted, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! The smoke of her [burning] shall continue to ascend forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities). |
19:4 Then the twenty-four elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] and the four living creatures fell prostrate and worshiped [paying divine honors to] God, Who sits on the throne, saying, Amen! Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! |
19:5 Then from the throne there came a voice, saying, Praise our God, all you servants of His, you who reverence Him, both small and great! |
19:6 After that I heard what sounded like the shout of a vast throng, like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of terrific {and} mighty peals of thunder, exclaiming, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! For now the Lord our God the Omnipotent (the All-Ruler) reigns! |
19:7 Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate {and} ascribe to Him glory {and} honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself. |
19:8 She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white--for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God's holy people). |
19:9 Then [the angel] said to me, Write this down: Blessed (happy, to be envied) are those who are summoned (invited, called) to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me [further], These are the true words (the genuine and exact declarations) of God. |
19:10 Then I fell prostrate at his feet to worship (to pay divine honors) to him, but he [restrained me] and said, Refrain! [You must not do that!] I am [only] another servant with you and your brethren who have [accepted and hold] the testimony borne by Jesus. Worship God! For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours]. |
19:11 After that I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse [appeared]! The One Who was riding it is called Faithful (Trustworthy, Loyal, Incorruptible, Steady) and True, and He passes judgment and wages war in righteousness (holiness, justice, and uprightness). |
19:12 His eyes [blaze] like a flame of fire, and on His head are many kingly crowns (diadems); and He has a title (name) inscribed which He alone knows {or} can understand. |
19:13 He is dressed in a robe dyed by dipping in blood, and the title by which He is called is The Word of God. |
19:14 And the troops of heaven, clothed in fine linen, dazzling and clean, followed Him on white horses. |
19:15 From His mouth goes forth a sharp sword with which He can smite (afflict, strike) the nations; and He will shepherd {and} control them with a staff (scepter, rod) of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath {and} indignation of God the All-Ruler (the Almighty, the Omnipotent). |
19:16 And on His garment (robe) and on His thigh He has a name (title) inscribed, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. |
19:17 Then I saw a single angel stationed in the sun's light, and with a mighty voice he shouted to all the birds that fly across the sky, Come, gather yourselves together for the great supper of God, |
19:18 That you may feast on the flesh of rulers, the flesh of generals {and} captains, the flesh of powerful {and} mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all humanity, both free and slave, both small and great! |
19:19 Then I saw the beast and the rulers {and} leaders of the earth with their troops mustered to go into battle {and} make war against Him Who is mounted on the horse and against His troops. |
19:20 And the beast was seized {and} overpowered, and with him the false prophet who in his presence had worked wonders {and} performed miracles by which he led astray those who had accepted {or} permitted to be placed upon them the stamp (mark) of the beast and those who paid homage {and} gave divine honors to his statue. Both of them were hurled alive into the fiery lake that burns {and} blazes with brimstone. |
19:21 And the rest were killed with the sword that issues from the mouth of Him Who is mounted on the horse, and all the birds fed ravenously {and} glutted themselves with their flesh. |