History ends at Armageddon — not in the bleak nihilistic sense, but in the most dramatic reversal imaginable. The armies of the world are assembled against Jerusalem. The Antichrist has consolidated global power. The Tribulation saints are dying. And then the sky splits open. Jesus returns — not as a vulnerable infant in a manger, not as a servant with a towel, but as the King of Kings, with an army of heaven behind Him, to end the war the world started.

Last time we examined the ten-horn confederacy and its role in empowering the Antichrist. Now we reach the climax of the Tribulation: the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in heaven, the Second Advent of Christ to earth, and the Battle of Armageddon.

This passage in Revelation 19:1-10 is what we call parenthetical — meaning it's inserted here in the sequence of Revelation, but it actually describes events happening in Heaven just before Christ returns to Earth. Let me explain why this matters.

While the text appears after the vial judgments, the Marriage Supper will actually take place in Heaven when all the Tribulation saints and the two witnesses are raptured at the end of Daniel's Seventieth Week. Christ's return happens at the seventh vial or shortly after, but the Marriage Supper occurs before He comes back. So Revelation 19:1-10 explains what's happening in Heaven right before Christ descends to Earth with His saints.

What's clear in this passage is that the multitudes in Heaven are praising God because He has already judged the "great whore," and the smoke from Literal Babylon's destruction is rising up at that very moment.

The Identity of the "Great Whore"

Now, this "great whore" cannot be the same as the woman in Rev. 17. Here's why: that woman will have been destroyed 3½ years before this passage is fulfilled, so her smoke wouldn't still be ascending at this time.

This judgment comes directly from God Himself, who avenges the blood of His servants at her hand. The rejoicing we see here is actually in obedience to the command of Revelation 18:20, which calls "heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets" to rejoice over her judgment.

Her smoke ascends to God "for ever and ever" — a phrase used fourteen times in Revelation. This matches the eternal desolations of Literal Babylon described in Isaiah 13:19-22; Jeremiah 50:13, 23, 39, 40; 51:26, 37, 62. This may actually be the one place where the eternal lake of fire will be visible to those living on the New Earth after the Millennium Isaiah 66:22-24Revelation 14:9-11.

Worship in Heaven

Next in this passage, we see the elders and living creatures worshipping God. This is the last time they appear in Revelation.

Then a voice from the throne calls out, "Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great." John then hears what sounds like a great multitude — like the roar of many waters and powerful thunder — saying, "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." After this, the angel shows John the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

The Bride Made Ready

The statement in Revelation 19:7, "His wife hath made herself ready," shows us that certain preparations are necessary. Think of it like a bride spending months preparing for her wedding day — there's intentional effort involved. This seems clear from her white robe, which represents the righteousness of the saints Revelation 19:8.

We can't fully describe the wedding supper itself because Scripture doesn't give us those details. What we do know is that it will be a real banquet — as real as any ever held on Earth.

The Greek word for "marriage" actually means "marriage feast," proving this supper will be just as literal and real as any we know here. Compare Revelation 19:1-10 with Matthew 22:2; 25:10.

Don't let the scale of such a wedding supper trouble you — "with God all things are possible." If we can imagine thousands eating at a banquet here on Earth, we can understand on the same basis how innumerable companies will do so in Heaven. That food will be eaten in Heaven is clear from Luke 22:16, 18, 30; Revelation 2:7, 17; 22:1-2; Psalms 78:25; Exodus 24:11.

John's Mistake

When John witnessed these things, he fell down to worship the angel as he would worship God. But he was immediately stopped and told that the angel was also a redeemed person — a fellow-servant among the brethren the prophets, and those who have the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy.