1 After these things I heard what sounded like the loud voices of a huge crowd in heaven, shouting, "Hallelujah [which means, "Praise God"]! Salvation and splendor and power belong to our God.
2 For His judgments are true and just; He has judged [i.e., condemned] the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and He has punished her for [shedding] the blood of His servants."
3 And again they shouted, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her [burning. See 18:18] ascends forever and ever."
4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who sits on His throne. They said, "May it be so, Hallelujah!"
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all of you [who are] His servants, you who are the least significant and [also] the most important ones, who revere Him."
6 Then I heard what sounded like the voices of a huge crowd, and the sound of much rushing water, and great rolling thunder. They shouted, "Hallelujah! For the Lord, our God Almighty rules.
7 We should rejoice and be extremely glad, and we should give honor to Him. For the time has come for the Lamb's marriage, and His bride has prepared herself [for the wedding].
8 She was given expensive, bright, clean linen [clothing] to wear." (Now the expensive linen [clothing] represents the righteous deeds of the saints [i.e., God's holy people]).
9 Then the angel said to me [See 17:1; 18:1-2], "Write [this]: Those who are invited to the wedding reception of the Lamb are blessed." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."
10 Then I fell down in front of him to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do that; I am [only] a fellow-servant with you and with your brothers who hold onto the testimony about Jesus. You should worship God. For the testimony about Jesus is the spirit [i.e., the purpose, or source] of prophecy."
11 Then I saw heaven open, and there before me was a white horse whose rider was called "Faithful and True." And He [i.e., Christ] judges and wages war in a just way.
12 And His eyes are [like] blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns, and He has a name written [on Him] which is known only by Him.
13 And He is dressed in a robe that has been dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is "The Word of God."
14 And the armies in heaven, dressed in expensive, white, clean linen, followed Him, [riding] on white horses.
15 And a sharp sword came out of His mouth, with which He would strike down the nations. And He will rule them with an iron staff and will trample on [the grapes of] God Almighty's winepress of anger.
16 And on His robe and His thigh was written the name, "King of kings, and Lord of lords."
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice to all the birds that fly in midair, "Come and be assembled together for the great supper of God,
18 so that you can eat the flesh of kings, and military commanders, and strong [i.e., influential ?] people, and horses with their riders, and [you can eat] the flesh of all people, the least significant [as well as] the most important ones."
19 Then I saw the beast [See 13:1ff], and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled together to wage war against the One who was riding on the horse [i.e., Christ. See verse 11] and His army.
20 But the beast was captured, along with the false prophet [See 16:13], who performed [supernatural] signs in his presence. [He had performed these signs] to deceive those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his statue. [See 13:15-16]. The beast and the false prophet were both thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur.
21 Then the rest of them [i.e., the kings and their armies. Verse 19] were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the One riding the horse. And all the birds gorged on their flesh.