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.