Great Rejoicing in Heaven (Revelation 19:1-6) - The scene, again, is in heaven. Verses 1-6 depict great rejoicing in heaven. The reason for the rejoicing is the destruction of Babylon – both politically and ecclesiastically speaking. This was a tremendous occasion.
In verse one, John heard “a great voice.” This voice was like the voice of many waters, like the sound of many peals of thunders (Rev. 19:6). This voice was the voice of the redeemed in heaven. At instructions from the throne of God (found in verse 5), every redeemed heart cried out in fervent praise and worship: “Hallelujah.” [The Hallelujah chorus] Praise the Lord! “For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
The Marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-10) - This is the event in which the bride and bridegroom, i.e. Christ and the Church, are brought together in a vital eternal union. This is a consummation of the marriage. The figure here is according to the pattern of oriental marriage, which had three stages: (1) The betrothal, (2) The coming of the bridegroom, and (3) The marriage and the marriage supper. Here, we see this picture presented through: (1) The betrothal of the believers to Christ, which took place at conversion, (2) The coming of the bridegroom that took place at the Rapture, and (3) The marriage supper, in connection with Christ’s coming to earth. Rev. 19:9 reads, “Blessed are they who are called into the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
Christ’s Second Coming to Earth (Revelation 19:11-16) - This is a bird’s eye view of Christ’s departure from heaven. In verse 11, John saw Him riding on “a white horse.” His visible name was Word of God, Faithful and True. His eyes were like a flame of fire and there were many crowns on His head (Rev. 19:12). He is accompanied by the armies of heaven and will smite the nations. He will execute judgment on the nations (Rev. 19:14). He is called King of kings and Lord of lords.
This is the coming that the prophets foretold. This is the coming that is spoken of in the Gospels (except for one instance - John 14). Paul speaks of His coming in 2 Thess. 1:7-10. This is the coming our Lord spoke of in Acts 1. When John describes this scene, he has in mind the homecoming of the victorious Roman general. Riding on a white horse down the main street of Rome, His spoils of war are with him. John says the Christ is “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
The Rapture - “If I go, I will come again and rescue you onto Myself.” 1 Thess. 4:16-17 says, “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Cor. 15:51-52 says, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” [Envision this: There shall be two in a bed – one shall be taken, the other one left. There shall be two grinding at the mill – one shall be taken taken, the other one left]