Revelation 19:1-5 (ESV) - After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” 3Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever (eternal).” 4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”

Revelation 19:6-9 (ESV) - Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Revelation 19:10 (ESV) - 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 brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 19:11-16 (ESV) - Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

The rapture – Christ returns in the clouds to take believers to be with him either before the seven year tribulation or in the midst of the tribulation period (Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Corinthians 15:50-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The second coming – Jesus comes fully to the earth to establish His kingdom.

The second coming of Jesus:

1. Jesus comes the way he left.
Acts 1:9–11 (ESV) - And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

2. Jesus comes to where he left.
Zechariah 14:4 (ESV) - On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.

3. Jesus comes visibly.
Revelation 1:7 (ESV) - Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

4. Jesus comes triumphantly to rule the earth!

There is so much about these few verses that draw from other verses in Revelation and other parts of the Bible.

· A white horse – Revelation 6:2 (in chapter 6 the rider of the white horse is not Jesus, rather a counterfeit messiah)

· Faithful and True – Revelation 3:14

· Eyes are like a flame of fire – Revelation 1:14; 2:18

· Many diadems – Revelation 12:3 dragon has seven diadems; Revelation13:1 beast ten diadems. Jesus has many!!

· A name no one knows but himself – we know much but not all!

· Robe dipped in blood – Revelation 1:13; 7:9, 13, 14; 22:14

· The Word of God – Revelation 1:2, 9; 6:9; 20:4; John 1:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15-17

· From his mouth comes a sharp sword – Revelation 1:16; 2:12

· Rod of iron – Revelation 2:27; 12:15

· Tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty - Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 14:19-20; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6; 21:22

· King of kings and Lord of lords – Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:3; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14

Revelation 19:17-18 (ESV) - Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18to 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.”

Revelation 19:19-21 (ESV) - And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done 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 sulfur. 21And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

So what?

1. Live a Hallelujah life.

2. Live with the anticipation of a bride – the bridegroom will come!

Discussion Questions
1. Describe what you appreciate about the anticipation of a wedding day. If married, you can share about your own wedding day.

2. Discuss from Scripture your understanding of the difference between the rapture of the church and the second coming of Jesus.

3. In what way does the metaphor of the marriage supper of the Lamb help you understand what the second coming of Christ will be like?

4. Review the four points we know about the second coming of Jesus. What stands out to you? What else would you add from Scripture to describe His second coming?

5. Describe tangible ways to live a hallelujah life. What are ways to keep your mind focused on praise to God in a world that denies Him?