Synopsis: As America marks its 250th anniversary, John Hancock’s bold signature on the Declaration of Independence illustrates courageous allegiance without knowing the outcome. Christians, however, live with greater certainty, because Revelation 19 shows how history ends. Babylon, the seductive world system opposed to God, will be fully and finally judged, prompting heaven’s Hallelujah as God’s glory, justice, and eternal joy are revealed. At the same time, the Church’s hope is spectacularly fulfilled in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, where Christ welcomes His purified bride into everlasting fellowship. Since this future is certain, believers must refuse Babylon and instead prepare daily for Christ’s return through holiness, repentance, and obedience, boldly and unashamedly signing their lives to King Jesus.
Text: Revelation 19:1-10
Date: July 5, 2026
Introduction
Opening Illustration – America 250: This week, America our beloved country turned 250 years old. Quite remarkable. I love American history. The Revolution was one of those singular moments in history where God’s providence was so clear, so powerful, so uniquely vivid.
The thing we have to understand about our countrie’s birth is the sheer audacity of those revolutionaries to dare to declare independence from England. The vast majority of the Sons of Liberty were deeply Christian men. Protestant Christianity was the true moral fiber and framework of the American colonies from its earliest days in Plymouth. And so, as a matter of principle, they believed it was their God assigned duty to resist tyranny, even if that meant resisting their own nation of Britain which they loved dearly.
And so, on July 4, 1776 the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence. It is difficult to put into words how courageous it was for those men to sign that document. In most people’s opinion, it was likely a death sentence, because they were openly declaring rebellion to the King of the most powerful nation in the world at the time. And you’ve got to love John Hancock. Hancock was a very wealthy tradesman, and might we say a cunning businessman (putting it nicely). Hancock signed his name in in what is certainly the largest handwriting, in the very center of the document. It was Hancock’s way of saying, “Come and get me.”
Personal: While the American revolution is a fascinating study in history and God’s providence, there is a far greater revolution that has been underway for 2,000 years. This revolution is against a far greater enemy than Britain’s King George III. The revolution I speak of is that of the Church declaring its allegiance to King Jesus over and above every authority and power in this world. Just like our founding fathers, each person who declares their allegiance to King Jesus, signs their name to the Declaration. Just like the founding fathers, we now find ourselves in the midst of spiritual battle, as the powers of this world do all they can to resist the Kingdom of God and those who serve it. But what makes the Church’s revolution distinct is that we have read the end already. John Hancock, and George Washington, and John Adams fought a war without knowing how it would end. But we fight a war knowing precisely what is to come.
Context Large: We are coming towards the very end of the book of Revelation. We have seen that this book is describing, in often horrifying symbolism, the reality of life in the Church Age. Through symbols and signs, the story of Christianity is told. And as we near the end of this book, the final sermons and chapters are going to catapult us to the very end of the story. We will see that end through multiple different angles.
Context Small: The angle we view the end through today, is through the story of the judgment of two very different symbolic women. On the one hand is the harlot, who we met three Sundays ago in our study of Revelation 17. The harlot represents Babylon, the sin and cultural atheism of this world that seduces believers to stray from God. On the other hand is the judgment of the Church, represented as a faithful bride. The purpose of this passage is very simple. It is presenting two futures before us. It stands as a vision, beckoning us, not only to make sure that we are found on the right side of history, but calling us forth to endurance in this life, as we await the end of all things.
Main Idea: Hallelujah, the end will be better than we could have ever dreamed.
Why will it be better?
Because Babylon Will Be Utterly Defeated
First, because Babylon will be utterly defeated
Revelation 19:1–5 “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, for 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.” Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.””
Hallelujah: It is interesting that the key word that is used three times in these five verses is “Hallelujah.” This chapter is in only time in the New Testament where that word appears. Hallelujah is a Greek transliteration of two Hebrew words. “Hallelu” meaning “all of you praise.” “Yah” being the shortened form of the name YHWH, the name of God.” And so “Hallelujah” literally means “Praise YHWH.” And what is this angelic host praising YHWH for? They praise God for the final judgment of the harlot that we met back in chapter 17.
Chapter 17: In chapter 17, you will recall that we were introduced to Babylon, who was imagined as a great harlot, woman of sin, deceiving the nations and seducing the world away from faith in the one true and living God, and towards immorality of all kinds. We spoke at length about the cultural influences of Babylon all around us. We spoke at length of how we as Christians are called to live in the midst of this Babylon. We are not to flirt with Babylon, but we are to flee from her temptations so that we are not drawn into her vices. And at the end of that chapter, we fast forwarded to the end of this Church Age, a time still yet on our horizon, where all that the symbol of Babylon in Revelation represents will be judged.
Chapter 18: Chapter 18 is a like a great angelic choir singing about Babylon’s judgment.
Revelation 18:2 “…Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!…”
Judgment: That great demonic power in the midst of culture that has seduced kings and merchants and tradesman and men and women and children alike. Babylon will fall. And her fall will be terrible. Babylon’s end is much more than simply a cataclysmic end of an empire. It is God’s judgment and wrath poured out sin.
Revelation 18:5–6 “for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.”
Mourning: It is interesting to note in chapter 18 that most of the world mourns over her judgment. Being so enamored with the sins of this world, when they see Babylon’s judgment, the people of this world grieve.
Revelation 18:9 “And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.”
This is actually quite a sick scene. Babylon the harlot was responsible for all that is wicked and sinful and perverted and horrifying in this world. Her judgment should be the world’s liberation.
In the remaining verses of chapter 18, the whole world is grieving that the great treasure of their heart has been exposed and come to its fiery end. Their hearts loved this world, and when it comes to an end they will grieve. There is only one group not grieving at Babylon’s judgment, that’s the Church.
Revelation 18:20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!””
Hallelujah: It is against that backdrop, that our verses today we read of angels in Heaven singing Hallelujah. Why do they sing Hallelujah over something so dreadful and awful as the burning judgment of Babylon? These five verses in chapter 19 reveal at least three reasons Babylon has to fall.
1 … because God’s glory cannot share the stage (1): Verse 1 says,
Revelation 19:1 “… Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,”
Babylon had tried to steal from God what is rightfully his. Babylon, the culture of sin and vice and wickedness that persists all around us throughout this Church Age sought glory for herself. She sought fame and desired to make her name great. But God’s glory cannot share the stage. And while he permits Babylon to mock his glory for a short while, in the end, he will stand alone at the center of Heaven. Finally, he will get the glory he deserves
2 … because God’s justice cannot be mocked (2): Verse 2 says,
Revelation 19:2 “for his judgments are true and just…”
During the Age of the Church that you and I live in now, injustice often persists. We look at the world around us and often lament at the wickedness in the streets of Chicago. We grieve at the wickedness of what happens online. We lament at the wickedness that we know happens in dark corners of this city and our world every day. Finally, Evil gets the justice it deserves
3 … because heaven’s joy cannot begin until evil ends (3): Verse 3 says,
Revelation 19:3 “… Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
This verse communicates the utter end of Babylon. Her judgment is forever and ever. She cannot return. The smoke from her flames will endure throughout all eternity. This means that the eternity of the saints will never be tarnished in the slightest, for Babylon will never rise again. The joy of heaven will be unceasing, because every power that could possibly be used to ever ruin that joy will have been utterly cast out. Finally God’s people receive the joy they’ve waited for
The Great Reversal: When we think about these reasons why Babylon had to fall, there is an irony in it all.
Babylon wanted glory. But in the end God gets all the glory.
Babylon escaped justice. But in the end justice catches her.
Babylon promised pleausure, but in the end heaven receives all the joy.
Babylon persecuted the saints, but in the end the saints inherit the kingdom.
Everything Babylon tried to steal comes back to God and His people a thousand times over.
Present Discipleship: This all sounds wonderful. But it is also all still in our future. What does this have to do with our life today? There is a bit of a comparison between chapters 18 and 19. In chapter 18, the people of this world, from kings, to businessmen, to poor and rich, to everyone in between, mourn and wail and weep at the destruction of Babylon. Why? Because everything they loved was burning. In contrast, the Church in chapter 19 is rejoicing as Babylon burns, because everything they love is seated on the throne.
This makes us ask a very important question, What do I actually love the most? What do I grieve losing the most?
The Big Question: Here is the big golden question for you. If Babylon were to fall today, every secular power structure and every secular authority and every secular movie and every secular website and every secular institution and every secular ideology, would the first words out of your mouth be “Hallelujah?” Or would you grieve the loss of a world you have come to love?
It is interesting, that those who live in contexts where the world around them is so extremely difficult, we can understand through their eyes how they might rejoice at the fall of Babylon. But in our context, the secular world around us so filled with temporary pleasures and delights, that indeed many who call themselves Christian may find themselves grieving deeply on the day Christ returns and puts an end to it all.
Wrap Up Section: Babylon will burn. The temptation in this life is to allow the harlot to coddle you to sleep while the house is already catching fire around you. Wake up Church! Christ is on his throne. Babylon will not last. But Christ will reign forever.
Because the Hope of the Church Will be Spectacularly Fulfilled
Second, because the hope of the Church will be spectacularly fulfilled.
Revelation 19:6–10 “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. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And 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.” 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.”
Marriage of the Lamb (7): These verses describe the ultimate fulfilment of the Church as a marriage. It tells us that those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb are truly blessed. In order to understand this language we need to go back in time and understand how marriage worked in the first century.
Western: Through today’s western lens, we have a particular vision of marriage which, while helpful in some regards, is unhelpful for understanding this text. In our western culture, two people typically date for a period of time. Then they get engaged. And engagement is like an informal commitment. You can still get out, but its far more awkward. Then, finally there is a wedding ceremony which is followed by the wedding reception.
Ancient: Ancient culture was a bit different.
Arranged: First, most marriages were arranged. A father would arrange a bride for his son. And so the entire process of two people falling in love was removed. One thinks of Abraham’s servant traveling to Abraham’s hometown to go find a bride for his son Isaac.
Betrothal: An ancient first began with a betrothal. The closest thing we have to betrothal is engagement, but betrothal was far more binding. It was a legally binding marriage ceremony performed before witnesses, and a blessing was spoken over the betrothed couple. Indeed, to separate from a woman that a man was betrothed to required a certificate of divorce. And so truly, at the point of betrothal it is proper to say that the two are married, though they have not consummated the marriage yet.
Room & Dowry: After the betrothal, a lengthy period of time would begin. The bride would stay in her house with her parents, while two things occcured. First, the husband would return to his father’s house, and often he would begin to build either a new room on his father’s house, or a new house entirely for his family to move into one the wedding was complete. Second, the young man would begin to work to pay the price of the bride. Typically, a man would pay a dowry for a daughter’s hand in marriage.
Marriage Supper: At the end of that interval, he would dress in his best clothes. He would make his way with his closest friends to his to betrothed. He would take her to their new home. This would kickoff a week-long festival and celebration in which the marriage supper would take place.
The Church Betrothed: This passage, as well as others in scripture, use this image of marriage to describe the Church. In fact, we might look at it through the other way, and say that all earthly marriage, is a shadow of the archetype of marriage, which is Christ and his love of the Church. The Church collectively, as a unit, is called the Bride of Christ in scripture. Ephesians 5, which is the centerpiece of my ongoing studies, is one of the clearest passages in scripture that makes this point. After speaking about the love and duties of a husband towards one another, he writes that:
Ephesians 5:32 “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
A Warning: Now let me give a brief but important word. I am going to walk through how this imagery of ancient marriages so wonderfully teaches us the gopsel. But we must avoid a trap that is often made. Earthly marriage is a wonderful symbol and image that the Bible uses to convey something about the relationship of Christ to His Church. But we must not push the image too far. Sometimes in modern evangelical culture, we can overly play this card in such a way that we talk of individual Christians being married to Jesus, and falling in love with Jesus. That can make men, feel a little uncomfortable, because Jesus is a guy. We are not individually to romantically fall in love with Jesus. Rather, the Church as a collective unit is called the bride of Christ. And God is his infinite wisdom has given us earthly marriage to paint a picture, and allude to, the far more significant relationship of Christ and His Church.
Same Pattern: Indeed, Christ’s relationship to the Church follows the same pattern as the ancient Hebrew marriage ceremonies.
Arranged: Just as father’s typically arranged marriages for their sons, so has our heavenly father arranged Christ’s marriage to the Church. Ephesians 1:3 informs us
Ephesians 1:3–4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”
Our salvation in Christ does not follow a typical Western vision of marriage where we slowly grow in love with our spouse and then eventually decide to marry them. No! The Father ordained our salvation. He elected us for this purpose before the foundation of the world.
Betrothal: Second, the moment a person repents of their sin and trusts in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting, they are included in the Church which is legally betrothed to Christ. This betrothal cannot be undone. It is an unchanging status of marriage.
Dowry Price: Indeed, a dowry price was paid. The price was of infinite value. Jesus the Son, paid the price of his life in order to secure the Church for redemption. No other price would satisfy the debt.
Lengthy Time: During this betrothal time, Jesus Christ has gone away to the Father to prepare a house for you in heaven. It is an eternal home, of life in the midst of community—the community of the Church—and in the fellowship of our Trinitarian God.
Clothes: Verse 8 informs us that the Church is clothed in fine linen, which represents her righteous deeds. This language is very important. It speaks of the preparation of the bride for the returning groom. We the Church eagerly await the return of Christ, and we do so by living honorably according to his law.
Return: At the end of this betrothal period, Christ will return. When he returns he will gather his church in the place that he has prepared for her. They will feast. Not for a week, but for eternity at teh wedding supper of the lamb. The image of the wedding indicates food and feasting. Certainly, there will be much food to eat in heaven. But the image is far more than just a meal. It is a celebration of life complete and of promises fulfilled. It is not just the “Marriage Supper,” but it is the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” At the center of the festival of heaven is Christ, seated on His throne in all of his glory.
Never Before!: James Hamilton in his commentary on this section has so much insight into the wonder of what is being communicated here. We can scarcely imagine the all encompassing glory of what that Wedding Supper will be like.
Never before has there been a more wealthy Father who has planned who has gone to greater lengths in preparation for this supper.
Never before has a man gone to greater depths of pain and toil to pay the dowry price for his bride.
Never before has a more significant pledge been made than the giving of the Holy Spirit.
Never before has a bride been clothed in more fine clothing than that which has been granted her by the Son.
Never before has greater exultation and celebration been experienced than will be experienced at the end of all things at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Never before has there been a wedding more significant than this.
Never before has there been a prince with greater authority than Christ who has committed himself to a bride of such lowly background.
Never before has a bridegroom loved his bride more.
Never before has a bride waited for her husband more.
Never before has there been a wedding with more guests than will be in attendance on that great day.
Application – Prepare Yourself: You ask yourself, what do I do with this? For that we look to the end of verse 7.
Revelation 19:7–8 “… and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”
How does the bride make herself ready? Through her deeds? Through righteous living, she prepares herself for the return of the bridegroom.
Parable 10 Virgins: Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25 called the Parable of the 10 virgins. In that parable ten virgins betrothed to their bridegrooms go out to wait for his return to be taken away to their marriage supper. Five wisely bring oil for their lamps, while five foolishly took their lamps with no oil. As the night grew long, the foolish virgins realized their predicament, that they had not prepared well for the groom’s return. And so the foolish brides race into town to buy more oil, and while they are gone the groom returns and the door is shut. The last line of that parable is instruction to us, Christ’s Church.
Matthew 25:11–13 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
The question is not are you excited for Christ’s return and how great the Wedding Supper will be. The question is will you be ready when the bridegroom arrives? All ten virgins believed the bridegroom was returning. But only five made it to the supper, because they prepared.
Are you: If you are truly saved in Christ, then the Holy Spirit will work in you and through to
Are you putting sin to death?
Are you growing in holiness?
Are you learning to love what Christ loves?
Are you serving his Church?
Are you forgiving others generously and freely as one who has been forgiven greatly.
Are you repenting often and searching your life for patterns of sin?
Are you obeying him when no one is watching?
None of these things are what get you into heaven. Christ alone paid the dowry. But those for whom Christ paid the dowry will prepare wisely.
Closing
As I close I want to take us back to where we began, where John Hancock famously signed his name in enormous letters upon the Declaration of Independence. Hancock knew that by signing his name in that way, he was putting his life on the line. He didn’t know whether the revolution would succeed or no. He didn’t know if he would go down in history as a patriot or a traitor. But he signed anyway. Why? Because he believed the cause was worth his life.
Church, he signed without knowing how the story would end. We already know our story ends. Babylon falls. The lamb reigns. The Bride is welcomed home. The eternal marriage supper begins. Christ wins.
Sign your life boldly to Christ. Stand for him. Speak of him and obey him. Suffer for him if necessary. Love him above everything that Babylon has to offer you. Live every day preparing as if it were the day that you were going to meet him facce to face.
Hancock wrote his name on a declaration. If you are in Christ, God has written your name on the lamb’s book of life.
