The Greek text of Revelation 19 in
Codex Sinaiticus (British Library, Add. 43725; from 4th century AD). The term "hallelujah" (in Greek
majuscule: ἈΛΛΗΛΟΎΪΑ) occurs 4 times in this chapter (Revelation 19:1,3,4,6) as highlighted in red frames.
In the
Jerusalem Bible, verses 1 to 10 conclude the section in chapters
17 and
18 dealing with the Punishment of Babylon, and verses 11 to 21 concern "the first battle of the End".[9]
The Fall of Babylon (19:1–8)
Verse 1
After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!" [10]
A 'full range of voices in heaven' give praise to God for his judgment of Babylon.[11]
John and the Angel (19:9–10)
Verse 9
Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."[12]
In place of "he said", many
English translations infer that the speaker is an angel, because in verse 10 he forgoes being worshipped and calls himself "your fellow servant, and [the fellow servant] of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus".[13] The
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges assumes that this angel and the one who came forward in
Revelation 17:1 are the same.[14]
The Rider from Heaven and his Victory (19:11–21)
Verse 11
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.[15]
According to the
Jerusalem Bible, the
white horse symbolises victory. According to
Methodist writer
Joseph Benson, it was "intended to denote [Jesus'] justice and holiness, and also that victory and triumph should mark his progress".[16] The horse may be contrasted with the colt or ass on which
Jesus rode into Jerusalem (
Matthew 21:1–7 etc.) and the biblical prophecy underpinning the gospel accounts (
Zechariah 9:9). The ass is for peace, but the horse was used for war.[17]
Verse 12
His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.[18]
Verse 13
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.[19]
The person of
Jesus, as the truth and the one who has 'supremely witnessed to the truth of God in his life and his death', comes to earth and is the Word of God in person.[11]
Verse 15
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 and wrath of Almighty God.[20]
^Davids, Peter H (1982). I Howard Marshall and W Ward Gasque (ed.). New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Epistle of James (Repr. ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.
ISBN0802823882.
^Evans, Craig A (2005). Craig A Evans (ed.). Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: John, Hebrews-Revelation. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Victor.
ISBN0781442281.
^F. L. Cross, The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, (New York:
Oxford University Press, 1997), 45
^Elliott, J. K. "Revelations from the apparatus criticus of the Book of Revelation: How Textual
Criticism Can Help Historians." Union Seminary Quarterly Review 63, no. 3-4 (2012): 1-23.
^Claremont Coptic Encyclopaedia,
Codex Vaticanus, accessed 29 September 2018