Revelation 19 fulfilled: Jesus coming in judgement upon apostate Jerusalem

In Revelation chapter 19, heaven opens — and a rider emerges on a white horse. His eyes are like fire. His robe is dipped in blood. And on His thigh is a name written:

“King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

Is this a prophecy of a future second coming?
Or… is it a vision of a past judgment, fulfilled in the first century — when Jesus came in power against apostate Jerusalem, just as He said He would?

Today we’ll explore Revelation 19 from a fulfilled eschatology perspective — understanding Jesus' coming not as a physical descent from the sky, but as a covenantal judgment, fulfilled in AD 70.

We’ll also connect this vision to Isaiah’s prophecy of divine vengeance, and Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians.

Let’s begin.

Revelation 19 follows the dramatic fall of Babylon the Great — the harlot woman riding the beast in chapter 17.

As I explained in my post on that topic, Babylon represents Jerusalem, the once-faithful bride who became unfaithful.

Jesus Himself had mourned over the city, saying:

O Jerusalem… how often would I have gathered thy children… but ye would not. 

(Matthew 23:37)

In Revelation 18, Babylon is judged. The city is burned. Her merchants weep. And then…
Revelation 19 opens with rejoicing in heaven.

Alleluia! Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God… for He hath judged the great whore… (Revelation 19:1–2)

This is not the beginning of a global apocalypse.
This is the celebration of covenant justice — the vindication of the saints who had been persecuted.

And then comes the rider…

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True… (Revelation 19:11)

This Rider is Jesus — not coming physically, but in royal, judicial power — just as He promised:

The Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father… and then shall He reward every man

(Matthew 16:27–28)

This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (Matthew 24:34)

But where did this imagery come from?

Let’s turn to Isaiah 63. The prophet sees a divine figure coming from Edom — robes stained red — and asks:

Who is this that cometh… with dyed garments from Bozrah?
I have trodden the winepress alone… their blood is sprinkled upon my garments. (Isaiah 63:1–3)

Now compare this to Revelation 19:13:

He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood… and He treadeth the winepress of the wrath of God.

The parallels are unmistakable.

Isaiah 63 speaks of Yahweh Himself executing vengeance on His enemies — and Revelation 19 shows Jesus doing the same.

This isn’t the end of the physical world.
It’s the climactic end of the Old Covenant age — the final judgment on Jerusalem, which had rejected her Messiah and slain His prophets.

But the vision in Revelation wasn’t new to the early church.

Years earlier, Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:

The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God… (2 Thessalonians 1:7–8)

This passage has often been interpreted as a future event. But look at the context:

…seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. (v.6)

The Thessalonian believers were being persecuted by the Jews. Paul promises them relief — not someday in the distant future — but when the Lord comes in judgment against their persecutors.

This fits perfectly with Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:

That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth…
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matthew 23:35–38)

Just as Paul said:

• Christ would come from heaven
• In flaming fire
• With angels
• To bring vengeance
• And to be glorified in His saints (2 Thess. 1:10)

All of this was fulfilled in the events of AD 66–70, when the Roman legions — described in prophetic imagery as God’s instruments — surrounded Jerusalem and brought devastating judgment.

Revelation 19:15 says:

Out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations…

This sword is not literal. It’s symbolic of His Word of authority and judgment.
Just like in Hebrews 4:12, the Word of God is described as sharper than a two-edged sword.

The kings of the earth in verse 19 are those political and religious leaders who had aligned with the harlot — Jerusalem — and opposed the Lamb.

Their downfall is part of the covenantal realignment that Revelation describes:
Out with the old, and in with the new.
Out with the harlot city — in with the New Jerusalem, the bride of Christ.

So what does Revelation 19 mean — from a fulfilled eschatology view?

It is not a distant future return.
It is a covenantal coming in judgment, just as Jesus and the prophets foretold.

Jesus came on the clouds — as Daniel 7 prophesied — to receive His kingdom.
He came in judgment — as Isaiah foresaw — to trample the winepress.
He came in fire — as Paul wrote — to bring justice and vindication.

And the result?

A New Covenant kingdom, unshakable.
A faithful bride, adorned in righteousness.
And a Lamb who reigns — not someday, but now.

These be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (Luke 21:22)

Until next time,
Ride with the King who already reigns.

The Lamb's wife made herself ready

Revelation 19

7 Let us be glad and rejoice…for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

According to ancient marriage customs, once a bride and groom were betrothed, the groom would go away to build an extension upon his fathers house, while the bride got ready for his return. 

When the father gave his final approval to the extension, the groom would return to receive his bride into the fathers house where the marriage was consummated and celebrated.

Let’s consider what Jesus said to his disciples in John 14

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Now let’s consider these questions:

Who is the Lamb’s wife in Revelation 19?

What does her wedding garment represent?

How did she get ready for the marriage?

1. Who is the Lamb’s wife and what does her garment represent?

We’ll begin with Paul’s letter to the Ephesians that was probably written around 60-64AD.

In Ephesians chapter 5 Paul wrote…

Ephesians 5

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Here Paul described the glorious church without spot or wrinkle being presented to Christ for marriage

Church ἐκκλησία ekklēsía called out

Let’s consider Ephesians chapters 2-4 to get more information about this ekklēsía.

Ephesians 2

11 Wherefore remember, that being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel…

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one…

15…to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body…

Here Paul described Israelites and Gentiles being joined together as “one new man”.

Ephesians 4

22…put off concerning the former conversation (manner of life) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The “one new man” was comprised of all those who’d “put off” their “old man” and “put on” the “new man…created in righteousness and true holiness”.

Let’s now consider what Paul wrote to the church at Rome. 

Romans 11

1…Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite…

13…I speak to you Gentiles…

17…some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them…

18 Boast not against the branches…

20…because of unbelief they were broken of…

23… if they abide not still in unbelief…God is able to graft them in again.

24 For if thou …wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Israel were the “natural branches”, whilst Gentiles were the “wild” branches, grafted into the good olive tree.

If we weigh Revelation 19 against Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and Romans we see that “the Lamb’s wife” included both natural Israel and Gentiles.

Paul wanted all Israel to be saved, however most were trying to establish their own righteousness.

Romans 10

1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

In Ephesians and Romans we see a contrast between those trying to establish their “own righteousness” and those “created in righteousness” (Ephes. 4:24).

In Ephesians 2:8-10 Paul made the point that salvation was “by grace..through faith…not of ourselves…not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works…”

New Covenant salvation was not wrought through adherence to the Mosaic law, ie. physical circumcision. 

It was wrought through grace and faith in Jesus Christ, which you could call “the circumcision of Christ” (Col. 2:11) or “circumcision…of the heart” (Rom. 2:29).

The “fine linen clean and white” worn by the “Lamb’s wife” represents “the righteousness of saints” (Rev. 19:8), in other words the “new man…created in righteousness” (Ephes. 4:24) or a spiritually circumcised heart.

3. How did the Lamb’s wife get ready? What was the process?

Towards the end of Ephesians 2 we find these verses…

19 Now therefore ye are…of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

Notice that the temple was growing. It was not yet complete.

We see this same concept in Ephesians 4

4 There is one body, and one Spirit…

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying (Building up) of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

The “one new man” (Ephes. 2) had to “grow up” into a “perfect man”.

Ephesians chapters 2-4 describe a betrothal period in which the “church” was cleansed and sanctified “with the washing of water by the word” via apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, that it might be presented to Christ a glorious church without spot or wrinkle.

Romans 12 is similar to Ephesians 4.

Romans 12

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

If we look specifically at Ephesians 4:13 and Romans 11:21, we find that both include the word “till” or “until” and both include the word “fullness”. 

Ephesians 4

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the FULLNESS of Christ:

Romans 11

21…blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the FULLNESS of the Gentiles be come in.

The word till/until suggests a definitive point in which “the fullness of the Gentiles” would “come in” and the “one new man” would measure up to “the fullness of Christ”.

1 Corinthians 12 is similar to both Ephesians 4 and Romans 12.

1 Corinthians 12

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

In the next chapter of Corinthians we find this…

1 Corinthians 13

8 Charity never faileth: but…prophecies…shall fail…tongues…shall cease…knowledge…shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Just like in Ephesians and Romans, 1 Corinthians suggests a definitive point in which the “one new man” would become a “perfect man” and  “childish things” would “vanish away”.

When did the Betrothal period end?

According to ancient marriage customs, the groom would go away for about a year but the exact day or hour of his return was not specified. Usually he’d return during the night, with a shout or blast of the shofar. 

The parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25 is an example of this custom. The foolish virgins were not ready for their groom so were shut out of the bridal chamber. 

In contrast, the “Lamb’s wife” had “made herself ready”.

Obviously her betrothal period ended when the groom (Jesus Christ) came back to receive her.

The vast majority of Christians are still waiting for Jesus to return. I’ve herd many sermons about getting ready or being ready for that day. 

However when did Jesus say he’d come back?

In Matthew 10 Jesus sent his disciples out to preach the gospel and said…

23…when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till
the Son of man be come.

In Matthew 16 Jesus told his disciples…

28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

In Matthew 24 Jesus’s disciples asked him…

3…what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

He replied…

34…This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

In other words he’d return within a forty year period, one generation.

The betrothal period of the “church” lasted roughly 40 years. That’s how long the “Lamb’s wife" had to get ready.

Thank you for reading this post and considering who the “Lamb’s wife” was, what her garment represented and how she got ready for the wedding. 

In my next post we’ll explore the last portion of Revelation 19 with regard to Jesus’s second coming and the marriage supper of the Lamb. God bless.