Revelation 19


Revelation 19 is the nineteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, but the precise identity of the author remains a point of academic debate. In this chapter, heaven exults over the fall of Babylon the Great.

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 21 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
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".

The Fall of Babylon (19:1–8)

Verse 1

A 'full range of voices in heaven' give praise to God for his judgment of Babylon.

John and the Angel (19:9–10)

Verse 9

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 of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus". The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges assumes that this angel and the one who came forward in are the same.

The Rider from Heaven and his Victory (19:11–21)

Verse 11

According to the Jerusalem Bible, the white horse symbolises victory. According to Methodist writer Joseph Benson, it was "intended to denote justice and holiness, and also that victory and triumph should mark his progress". The horse may be contrasted with the colt or ass on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem and the biblical prophecy underpinning the gospel accounts. The ass is for peace, but the horse was used for war.

Verse 13

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.

Verse 15