Revelation 19:5 - Meaning and Application

The triumphant song has ended, and now the marriage song begins (Revelation 19:6). Here we can notice the sound of heaven’s music. The chorus is large and loud, like the roar of many waters and the crash of mighty thunder. God is awesome even in praise. There is no discord in heaven. The morning stars sing together, and there is no false note, no jar, and no part out of tune. Everything is pure and perfect harmony.

The reason for this song is the rule and power of the almighty God who has redeemed his church by his own blood and is now, in a more public way, joining her to himself in marriage. “The marriage of the Lamb has come” (Revelation 19:7). Some think this points to the conversion of the Jews, which they expect will follow Babylon’s fall. Others think it points to the final resurrection, but the first view seems more likely. The bride is described by her clothing, and she does not wear the showy dress of the mother of harlots. Instead, she wears fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteousness of the saints.

This means the robes of Christ’s righteousness, counted to believers for justification, that is, being accepted as right before God, and given to them for sanctification, that is, being made holy in life. It is the white robe of pardon, adoption, and freedom, and also the white robe of purity and full holiness. She has washed her robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. These wedding clothes were not bought with any payment of her own. She received them as a gift from her blessed Lord.

The marriage feast is not described in detail, as in Matthew 22:4, but it is shown to be a feast that will make happy all who are called to it, that is, all who accept the invitation. It is a feast made of the promises of the gospel, the true sayings of God (Revelation 19:9). These promises, when opened, applied, sealed, and given as a pledge by the Spirit of God in holy communion, are the marriage feast. The whole body of those who share in this feast is the bride, the Lamb’s wife. They become one body and one Spirit. They are not merely watchers or guests, but they join themselves to the espoused party, the spiritual body of Christ.

The apostle was so moved by this vision that he fell at the angel’s feet to worship him, either because he thought the angel was more than a creature, or because his feelings overwhelmed him for the moment. He showed great honor by falling at the angel’s feet, and that posture was an outward act of worship. The angel refused sharply, saying, “Do not do that.” He gave a clear reason: “I am your fellow servant, and one of your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 19:10). In other words, I am a created being, your equal in office though not in nature. As an angel and messenger of God, I have the testimony of Jesus, a duty to bear witness about him. You also, as an apostle with the Spirit of prophecy, have the same testimony to give. So we are brothers and fellow servants in this work.

The angel then points John to the one true object of worship, God alone. “Worship God” means worship him, and him only. This fully condemns the practice of the papists in worshiping the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper, as well as saints and angels. It also condemns the practice of those Socinians and Arians who do not believe Christ is truly God by nature, yet still give him religious worship. Their excuses are only weak cover, like fig leaves. They stand convicted of idolatry by a messenger from heaven.