Year of the Bible
Revelation 19
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Commentary on the Book of Revelation, Chapter 19:
Now that great earthly enemy of God, Babylon, has been destroyed, we hear praise of God emanating from Heaven. It is a reminder of God’s power to bring justice to those working against Him. Another great event is previewed in song: the marriage of the Lamb to His Bride. The Bride of the Lamb is “bright and pure,” a juxtaposition to the evil queen Babylon (17:3-6). Another blessing is offered, this time to those invited the marriage supper of the Lamb. We leave behind this Bride for a couple of chapters to focus on Lamb, who appears in power, riding a white horse (see 1:14-16). He is Faithful, True, Word of God, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. His army of Heaven is with Him, and they face down the beast, the false prophet, and kings who follow them. The battle, having already been won on the Cross, is over as soon as it begins. The beast and false prophet are thrown into a lake of fire while their followers are slain by the true King.
The Book of Revelation, Chapter 19:
The Rejoicing in Heaven
1 After this I heard what seemed to be the mighty
voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for his judgments are true and just;
he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication,
and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
3 Once more they cried, “Hallelujah! The smoke from
her goes up for ever and ever.”
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And from the throne came a voice crying,
“Praise our God, all you his servants,
you who fear him, small and great.”
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous
deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said l to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The Rider on the White Horse
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name in scribed which no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to strike the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God
the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name in scribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.
The Beast and Its Armies Defeated
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who sits upon the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with brim stone. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword of him who sits upon the horse, the sword that issues from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
"...for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready..." (v 7) We the Church, collectively and individually, are called to the Heavenly marriage with Jesus the Divine Bridegroom. Are we ready to meet him if we were to pass from this life today? God, how do you want to prepare us for heaven right now?
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1 Después de esto oí como la fuerte
voz de una inmensa muchedumbre
en el cielo, que decía:
«¡Aleluya!
¡La salvación, la gloria y el poder
son de nuestro Dios;
2 sus juicios son verdaderos y justos,
pues condenó a la gran ramera,
que corrompía la tierra con su prostitución,
y vengó en ella la sangre de sus siervos!
»
3 Por segunda vez dijeron:
«¡Aleluya!
¡Su humareda sube por los siglos de
los siglos!»
4 Los veinticuatro ancianos y los cuatro
seres vivos se postraron y adoraron a
Dios sentado en el trono, diciendo:
–¡Amén! ¡Aleluya!
5 Entonces salió una voz desde el trono
que decía:
«Alabad a nuestro Dios
todos sus siervos
y los que le teméis,
pequeños y grandes».
6 Y oí una voz como de una inmensa
muchedumbre, como el estruendo
de caudalosas aguas, y el estampido de
fuertes truenos, que decían:
«¡Aleluya!
¡Reinó el Señor,
nuestro Dios omnipotente!
7 Alegrémonos; saltemos de júbilo;
démosle gloria,
pues llegaron las bodas del Cordero
y se ha engalanado su esposa;
8 le han regalado un vestido
de lino deslumbrante y puro:
el lino son las buenas obras de los
santos».
9 Entonces me dijo:
–Escribe: «Bienaventurados los llamados
a la cena de las bodas del Cordero
».
Y añadió:
–Éstas son palabras verdaderas de
Dios.
10 Me postré a sus pies para adorarle,
pero me dijo:
–¡No, no lo hagas! Yo soy compañero
de servicio tuyo y de tus hermanos
que guardan el testimonio de Jesús.
Adora a Dios. El testimonio de Jesús es
el espíritu de profecía.
11 Y vi el cielo abierto: en él un caballo
blanco, y el que lo monta se llama
Fiel y Veraz, y con justicia juzga y combate.
12 Sus ojos son como una llama de
fuego, y en la cabeza tiene muchas diademas;
lleva escrito un nombre que nadie
conoce sino él; 13 está vestido con un
manto teñido de sangre, y su nombre es:
«El Verbo de Dios». 14 Los ejércitos celestes,
vestidos de lino blanco y puro,
le seguían en caballos blancos. 15 De su
boca sale una espada afilada para herir
con ella a las naciones; él las apacentará
con cetro de hierro; y él pisa el lagar del
vino que contiene el furor de la ira de
Dios omnipotente. 16 En el manto y en el
muslo lleva escrito un nombre: Rey de
reyes y Señor de señores.
17 Vi también a un ángel de pie sobre
el sol que gritó con voz fuerte, diciendo
a todas las aves que volaban en lo alto
del cielo:
–¡Venid, congregaos para la gran
cena de Dios, 18 para que comáis carne
de reyes y carne de tribunos, carne de
poderosos y carne de caballos y de sus
jinetes, carne de todos los hombres, libres
y siervos, pequeños y grandes!
19 Y vi a la bestia, a los reyes y a sus
ejércitos congregados para hacer la guerra
contra el que iba montado en el caballo
y contra su ejército. 20 Pero apresaron
a la bestia y con ella al falso profeta
que en su presencia hacía prodigios,
con los que seducía a los que habían recibido
la marca de la bestia y a los que
habían adorado su imagen. Los dos fueron
arrojados vivos al estanque de fuego
que arde con azufre. 21 Los demás fue
ron muertos con la espada que sale de
la boca del que va montado en el caballo.
Y todas las aves se hartaron de sus
carnes.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
"...porque han llegado las bodas del Cordero, y su Esposa se ha preparado..." (v 7) Nosotros, la Iglesia, colectiva e individualmente, estamos llamados a las bodas celestiales con Jesús, el Divino Esposo. Dios, ¿cómo quieres prepararnos para el cielo en estos momentos?
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).