A Study in Matthew 24

A Study in the book of Matthew, Chapter 24

The Headlines – 7/18/2014:  Active war in Israel with Muslim terrorists, war in the Ukraine involving Russia, war in Syria and Iraq with ISIS Muslim terrorists, Muslim terrorist attacks in Africa, Muslim riots in France and England, trouble with radical Muslims in Libya, Egypt, and Sudan, trouble in the China Sea involving China and Japan, trouble brewing with North Korea, domestic scandals and political turmoil and trouble in the USA, severe national financial troubles throughout the world, severe droughts in various places including much of the western USA, famine in many parts of the world, a dramatic increase in the numbers and intensity of earthquakes throughout the earth, new drug resistant diseases and pestilences throughout much of the world including Ebola, Chikungunya fever, West Nile virus, and the EEE virus, and the list goes on.

The daily news is enough to scare anyone into depression and hopelessness. But we are not just anyone. We are the children of God and our kingdom is not of this world. [Phl 3:20 NLT] But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. [Jhn 18:36 NASB] Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." [Jhn 15:19 NASB] "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

As believers there is a hope set before us, the hope of glory at the return of our Lord Jesus. And it is this hope that enables us to see the current events in the world through a different lens, the lens of the prophecies of the Bible. [Luk 21:28 NKJV] "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."[Luk 21:31 NKJV] "So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

All of this leads me to look again at Jesus’ words that surely seem to speak of the days we are living in.

A Study in Mathew 24

[Mat 24:1 NKJV] Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.

[Mat 24:2 NKJV] And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not [one] stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

Jesus begins this discourse by prophesying the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. He is telling the disciples, and proving to us, that He knows the future, for what He prophesied occurred just as He said some 40 years later.

[Mat 24:3 NKJV] Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what [will be] the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

Two questions: 1 – when will these things be? And 2 – what will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the age? Jesus begins His answer to the disciples, addressing the signs of His coming at the end of the age. These are the things that we should be looking for to discern the times of His coming.

[Mat 24:4 NKJV] And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.

[Mat 24:5 NKJV] "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

The deceptions Jesus warns about concern false Christs (messiahs or saviors) and the deceptions they will bring to the earth. We can easily expand this warning to false prophets, teachers, and political leaders who will bring much deception to the earth. The first sign of His coming is an explosion of deception in the earth. Look around. Deception and out and out lies are the hallmark of our current society and politics.

[Mat 24:6 NKJV] "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Jesus tells us that the second sign of His coming and the end of the age will be a proliferation of wars and potential wars. Because He tells us that they must come to pass but the end is not yet, we see that these wars are the beginning signs or events marking the days of His coming and the end of the age. This is consistent with the prophecy of Revelation 6 where the beginning event of the 7 years of tribulation is the second rider on the red horse, war. Look around. There are a proliferation of wars and rumors of wars especially in the Middle East tonight.

[Mat 24:7 NKJV] "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

The next signs are famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Look around. There are serious famines and the potential for famine due to drought, pestilences, and an unprecedented number of earthquakes occurring in our day.

[Mat 24:8 NKJV] "All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.

Here we note that the above signs are the beginning of sorrows, the beginning of the days that immediately precede the coming of our Lord Jesus. The Bible often likens these days to birth pains.  Therefore, like birth pains, we should expect these signs to grow stronger and more frequent as we approach the day of His coming.

[Mat 24:9 NKJV] "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.

As these days begin Jesus warns us that there will be trouble for believers (and for Jews). Some will be killed.  [Rev 2:10 NKJV] "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw [some] of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Jesus also warns us that believers (and Jews) will be hated by all nations for His name’s sake. This warning is directed at those that believe in and proclaim Jesus as the Son of God and as their personal Lord. Look around. Look at the slaughter of Christians in many places in the world today. The number of martyrs is unprecedented. We also see irrational hatred of Christians growing throughout the world.

[Mat 24:10 NKJV] "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

This pressure is causing many to fall away and deny Christ; it is the very demand of Islamic ISIS terrorists in Iraq and Syria this very day. Just what is it that offends to the degree that people will betray and even hate one another? When one’s behavior is condemned by the teachings, standards and commandments of the Bible it seems that the natural reaction is to hate those that profess to believe the Bible and attempt to live by it. The Bible is the plumb line that exposes sin and sinners hate to have their sin exposed. At the root of this reaction is pride and the basic sinful nature of unregenerated mankind.  

[Mat 24:11 NKJV] "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

Deception through false prophets is noted as a sign of His coming. This sign and warning is directed at the church. Look around. Prophets and prophecies are abounding in our world today. Many are prophesying peace and safety and the restoration of governments and society. But how many are prophesying Biblical prophecies? How many are “prophesying” words to tickle the ears, to make people feel good, to gain attention for themselves, to please man verses pleasing God?

[Mat 24:12 NKJV] "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Jesus tells us that a key characteristic of these days of trouble before His return will be marked by lawlessness. A quick check of today’s news tells us that lawlessness from the highest levels of government to thugs in the streets is the rule of the day. As to the loss of love for the Lord and for each other, we can see it everywhere. The rule of the day here is, “take care of number one”. In the churches we see this where the emphasis is on plans and programs and pleasing people to get them to attend “my” church and not on the Lord Jesus. These are the lukewarm churches and those that have lost their first love. [Rev 2:4 NKJV] "Nevertheless I have [this] against you, that you have left your first love. [Rev 3:15 NKJV] "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.[Rev 3:16 NKJV] "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.[Rev 3:17 NKJV] "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--

[Mat 24:13 NKJV] "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

[Mat 24:14 NKJV] "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

In these verses we see the promise that those that hang in there (endure) through all of these things until the Lord comes will be saved.

[Mat 24:15 NKJV] "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),

[Mat 24:16 NKJV] "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

[Mat 24:17 NKJV] "Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.

[Mat 24:18 NKJV] "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

[Mat 24:19 NKJV] "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

[Mat 24:20 NKJV] "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

 [Mat 24:21 NKJV] "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

[Mat 24:22 NKJV] "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

The Lord now goes to the midpoint of the seven years of tribulation when the antichrist stands in the newly rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem and declares himself to be God. This is the 'abomination of desolation’. All of the signs He has been telling us have led up to this point. Here He is specifically addressing Jews here who are in Judea. He is telling them to flee into the mountains for a time of very great trouble or tribulation is coming (the Time of Jacob’s Trouble). This time is the last 31/2 years of the 7 years of tribulation. It will be a time of tribulation like no other has ever been and there will ever be another like it. But, because He is a covenant keeping God, for the sake of the elect, He will come and end this time of tribulation and complete His covenant promises to all Israel. [Rom 11:26 KJV] And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:[Rom 11:27 KJV] For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.[Rom 11:28 KJV] As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes.[Rom 11:29 KJV] For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.

[Mat 24:23 NKJV] "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here [is] the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe [it].

[Mat 24:24 NKJV] "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

[Mat 24:25 NKJV] "See, I have told you beforehand.

[Mat 24:26 NKJV] "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; [or] 'Look, [He is] in the inner rooms!' do not believe [it].

[Mat 24:27 NKJV] "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

 [Mat 24:28 NKJV] "For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

[Mat 24:29 NKJV] "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

[Mat 24:30 NKJV] "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

[Mat 24:31 NKJV] "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

In these last days the antichrist will be declaring himself to be God supported by the false prophet who will be telling all that the antichrist is God (or the Christ) and attempting to prove it with many signs and wonders like fire falling from heaven.  But Jesus says that when He comes, everybody will know it. He will come like lightning, riding on a white horse with the saints of heaven following His as He comes to earth to establish His Kingdom.

[Rev 19:11-21 NKJV]  Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes [were] like a flame of fire, and on His head [were] many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He [was] clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on [His] robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, "that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all [people], free and slave, both small and great." And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

[Mat 24:32 NKJV] "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer [is] near.

[Mat 24:33 NKJV] "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors!

[Mat 24:34 NKJV] "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

[Mat 24:35 NKJV] "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

[Mat 24:36 NKJV] "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

[Mat 24:37 NKJV] "But as the days of Noah [were], so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

[Mat 24:38 NKJV] "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

[Mat 24:39 NKJV] "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

 [Mat 24:40 NKJV] "Then two [men] will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.

[Mat 24:41 NKJV] "Two [women will be] grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.[Mat 24:42 NKJV] "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

[Mat 24:43 NKJV] "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

[Mat 24:44 NKJV] "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

[Mat 24:45 NKJV] "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

[Mat 24:46 NKJV] "Blessed [is] that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.

[Mat 24:47 NKJV] "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

[Mat 24:48 NKJV] "But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,'

[Mat 24:49 NKJV] "and begins to beat [his] fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,

[Mat 24:50 NKJV] "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for [him] and at an hour that he is not aware of,

[Mat 24:51 NKJV] "and will cut him in two and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus is plainly telling us here that the generation that sees these signs will be the generation that sees His second coming to the earth. He reminds us that no one knows the exact day or hour of His coming, but we are to know the signs of His coming and look to that great day as our hope of glory. It is interesting that the Lord tells us that in the days of Noah, they did not know the day of the flood until Noah entered the ark. But Noah surely knew! The “they” are those that do not know God or hear His voice. The “they” are those that do not know the signs or the prophecies of the last days. [1Th 5:1 NKJV] But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.[1Th 5:2 NKJV] For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.[1Th 5:3 NKJV] For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.[1Th 5:4 NKJV] But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.  [1Th 5:5 NKJV] You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.[1Th 5:6 NKJV] Therefore let us not sleep, as others [do], but let us watch and be sober.[1Th 5:7 NKJV] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.[1Th 5:8 NKJV] But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and [as] a helmet the hope of salvation. [1Th 5:9 NKJV] For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, [1Th 5:10 NKJV] who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.[1Th 5:11 NKJV] Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note that it is the evil servant who is caught unawares and receives the punishment thereof. For those of us who are expecting Him and anxiously awaiting Him, we are to be found at our duties serving Him and doing the works He has entrusted to us.

It is interesting that in verses 40-44 Jesus tells us that a time will come when two people will be a working doing their daily things when suddenly one will be taken and one will be left at an hour we do not expect. Therefore we are always to be ready!  I suspect that this is a hint of the rapture. A hint that for those that are hopefully and expectantly awaiting for His return, He will suddenly come and take us away to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man, our Jesus. [Rev 3:10 NKJV] "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

These days of great trial and tribulation are known Biblically as the days of God’s wrath. [Rev 6:16 NKJV] and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! [Rev 6:17 NKJV] "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" [Rev 8:5 NKJV] Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw [it] to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. [Rev 15:1 NKJV] Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

But the good news is God’s promise to His children: [1Th 5:9 NKJV] For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

[Rev 22:6 NKJV] Then he said to me, "These words [are] faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. [Rev 22:7 NKJV] "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed [is] he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."[Rev 22:10 NKJV] And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.[Rev 22:12 NKJV] "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward [is] with Me, to give to every one according to his work.[Rev 22:14 NKJV] Blessed [are] those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.[Rev 22:20 NKJV] He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus![Rev 22:21 NKJV] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.

This is our prayer! Luk 21:36 NKJV] "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Relating these signs to Revelation 6:1- 17 and the beginning of the seven years of tribulation, the days of the Wrath of The Lamb:

(Rev 6:1 NKJV) Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see."

(Rev 6:2 NKJV) And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Satan is released in the person of The Antichrist to initiate the following things.

(Rev 6:3 NKJV) When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see."

(Rev 6:4 NKJV) Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that [people] should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

In progress.

(Rev 6:5 NKJV) When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.

(Rev 6:6 NKJV) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine."

In progress.

(Rev 6:7 NKJV) When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see."

(Rev 6:8 NKJV) So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

gé: the earth, land

Original Word: γῆ, γῆς, ἡ
Short Definition: the earth, soil, land
Definition: the earth, soil, land, region, country, inhabitants of a region.

In progress.

(Rev 6:9 NKJV) When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

(Rev 6:10 NKJV) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

(Rev 6:11 NKJV) Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both [the number of] their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they [were], was completed.

In progress.

(Rev 6:12 NKJV) I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.

About to occur?

(Rev 6:13 NKJV) And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

(Rev 6:14 NKJV) Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

(Rev 6:15 NKJV) And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,

(Rev 6:16 NKJV) and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

(Rev 6:17 NKJV) "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

The days of the Wrath of The Lamb begin.

(Rev 7:1 NKJV) After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.

144,000 Jews marked and released to be God’s witnesses on earth and the Saints appear in Heaven.

(Rev 8:1 NKJV) When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

With the breaking of the seventh and last seal, the great scroll is opened and events of the Days of the Wrath of the Lamb begin..

(Rev 8:2 NKJV) And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

(Rev 8:3 NKJV) Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

(Rev 8:4 NKJV) And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.

(Rev 8:5 NKJV) Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw [it] to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

(Rev 8:6 NKJV) So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. (Rev 16:17 NKJV) Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!"

The judgments (Wrath) of God begin with natural disasters on earth.

(Rev 15:1 NKJV) Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

The wrath of God is complete or finish when the seventh and last bowl of wrath is poured out.

(Rev 16:17 NKJV) Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!"

(Rev 16:18 NKJV) And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.

(Rev 16:19 NKJV) Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

(Rev 16:20 NKJV) Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

(Rev 16:21 NKJV) And great hail from heaven fell upon men, [each hailstone] about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

Then the Lord Jesus returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus returns at this point destroys evil, imprisons Satan and establishes His Kingdom on earth.

(Rev 19:6 NKJV) And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

(Rev 19:7 NKJV) "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

(Rev 19:8 NKJV) And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

(Rev 19:9 NKJV) Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed [are] those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

Note that the marriage supper of the Lamb occurs at or immediately after His coming.

(Rev 19:11 NKJV) Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

(Rev 19:12 NKJV) His eyes [were] like a flame of fire, and on His head [were] many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

(Rev 19:13 NKJV) He [was] clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

(Rev 19:14 NKJV) And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

(Rev 19:15 NKJV) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

(Rev 19:16 NKJV) And He has on [His] robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.