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the wife. The "righteous award" seems to indicate some recognition of faithfulness, and
this is quite in harmony with the whole of the book. To each of the seven churches a
reward is promised to "him that overcometh". Those who come out of the great
tribulation are said to have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb". Some are said to have done His commandments, or to have washed their robes,
that they may have the right to the tree of life and to enter into the city. In this very
chapter there are two companies, the Lamb's wife, and the guests:--
"Write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb"
(verse 9).
As may be expected the word "Blessed" comes seven times in the Revelation, and the
words just quoted from chapter 19: come centrally in the list.
A | 1: 3. Blessed.--Reader, hearer and keeper of the words of this prophecy.
B | 14: 13. Blessed.--The Dead which die in the Lord.
C | 16: 15. Blessed.--He that watcheth and keepeth his garments.
D | 19: 9. Blessed.--They which are called to marriage supper.
C | 20: 6. Blessed.--He that hath part in the first resurrection.
A | 22: 7. Blessed.--He that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy.
B | 22: 14. Blessed.--They that do His commandments. Right to tree of life.
Apart from the passages which speak of hearing or keeping the sayings of this
prophecy, the other passages under B and C speak of the overcomer. This helps us
to see that those who respond to the call to the marriage supper are overcomers too. The
case of the man who had not the wedding garment will come to mind, and by reflection
from 19: 8 we see that this also indicates the "righteous award" of the saints. In the
case of the ten virgins, it was the "ready" ones that entered into the marriage.
In concluding this section the angel said, "These are the true words of God". We take
it that these words cover chapters 17:, 18: and 19: 1-9. There follows a series of
visions commencing with the formula "and I saw", which concludes in 21: 5 where
again we read, "These words are true and faithful". One of the seven angels again comes
forward and "shews" John the bride, the Lamb's wife, and also he "shewed" the river and
the tree of life. Again come the words, "These sayings are faithful and true". These
passages punctuate the grand conclusion of the book. Babylon judged, the marriage of
the Lamb, the riding forth of the Word of God, the first resurrection, the great white
throne, the new heavens and earth, the abolition of the curse, sorrow and death, the
detailed description of the New Jerusalem, and at last, Paradise restored. What a galaxy,
what a constellation, thrice confirmed to us by the words, "These are the true and faithful
words of God"!
Dark as the outlook may be now, and thicker the darkness yet to come, faith pierces
the gloom and sees ahead the judgment of all that oppresses and enslaves, and the
blessing and peace that must surely come when the Lord takes to Himself His great
power and reigns. We feel constrained to echo the seer's closing prayer, "Even so, come,
Lord Jesus".