Sermon Devotional: The Rising of the Bride and the King
Sermon Title: The Rising of the Bride and the King
Scripture: Revelation 19:1-21 (ESV)
The social sciences generally indicate that human beings need to hear a message more than once, often a number of times, in order to both understand it and, if appropriate, to embrace and trust it. Revelation reflects wisdom in this regard, often employing repetition, whether it be imagery from the Old Testament or teaching from the New Testament or disclosures from other portions of the book of Revelation itself. In this regard one can rightly observe that there is nothing dramatically new in this week’s scripture, but that takes nothing away from its truthfulness and importance. What does Revelation 19:1-21 have to say that is not new but is important and true? We will highlight four truths.
First, God is holy, good, and just. “Hallelujah! . . . true and just are his judgments” (vv. 1-2a). He is called “Faithful and True” and “with justice he judges and makes war” (v. 12). That which God does is always congruent with who he is. And his judgments and the actions he takes in accord with those judgments are “true and just.” They are true—that is, they are in accord with reality, with what actually is. They are just—thus, they embody moral goodness, moral rightness. Consequently and ultimately, God both condemns and acts against that which is evil (e.g., “He has condemned the great prostitute” [v. 2a]) and protects and blesses those who worship him alone (e.g., “‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” [v. 9]).
Second, evil is real and is opposed to God’s ways and God’s people. Thus, it is not surprising that John would see “the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the [white] horse and his army” (v. 19). From the garden of Eden to the threshold of the new heavens and new earth the kingdom of Satan opposes, wars against, the kingdom of God. Satan is the father of false prophets and lies. The paths of evil are paths of lies, not truth. They are paths of delusion, not reality. They are path which always run, ultimately, against God and against God’s people.
Third, God in Christ will be victorious over and destroy evil. The conflict between good and evil, between Satan and God, is not “50/50.” The ultimate outcome is clear and certain. God will definitively “strike down” those forces of the world that reject and oppose him (v. 15). They will be like mere grapes crushed in a winepress of divine fury (v. 15). The Great Deluder and all his minions will be “thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (v. 20). Evil will be completely, utterly defeated and destroyed.
Fourth, from the beginning to the end, God is King of kings and Lord of lords. He alone is worthy of worship. John reports that elders and other creatures “fell down and worshipped God, who was seated on the throne” (v. 4). And when John mistakenly fell at the feet of an angel “to worship him,” the angel rebuked him saying, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant . . . . Worship God!” (v. 10). He alone is supreme and he alone will rule over all. “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (v. 16).
Salvation and glory and power belong to this God. Truth and justice are the divine possession of this God. This is the God who prepares the ultimate feast, “the wedding supper of the Lamb” and his bride. Thus, blessed indeed are those who are “invited”—not those who want to be gate-crashers, but those invited by the only God—to the final feast (v. 9). “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. . . . the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (v. 7).
Consider –
╬ There are two feasts mentioned in Revelation 19: “The wedding supper of the Lamb” (v. 9) and “the great supper of God” (v. 17). The wedding supper of the Lamb is by invitation only to those blessed by the Lamb’s sacrifice. The great supper of God is the gathering of gate-crashers who have rejected God and have battled the Lamb alongside Satan. Do you believe that the visions of the future, and the symbolism they represent, described in the book of Revelation “might” come to pass? Will “probably” come to pass? With certainty, will come to pass? Whatever your response, prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to deepen your understanding of and trust in God’s victory and redemption for his people and his creation.
╬ Thank you, Father, for the victory of the Lamb. Thank you for the wedding feast that you are preparing. By your Holy Spirit guide and enable your people to live more fully in the light of the future you have planned and will bring to pass. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Scripture: Revelation 19:1-21 (ESV)
Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God, for true and just are his judgments. Revelation 19:1-2a
The social sciences generally indicate that human beings need to hear a message more than once, often a number of times, in order to both understand it and, if appropriate, to embrace and trust it. Revelation reflects wisdom in this regard, often employing repetition, whether it be imagery from the Old Testament or teaching from the New Testament or disclosures from other portions of the book of Revelation itself. In this regard one can rightly observe that there is nothing dramatically new in this week’s scripture, but that takes nothing away from its truthfulness and importance. What does Revelation 19:1-21 have to say that is not new but is important and true? We will highlight four truths.
First, God is holy, good, and just. “Hallelujah! . . . true and just are his judgments” (vv. 1-2a). He is called “Faithful and True” and “with justice he judges and makes war” (v. 12). That which God does is always congruent with who he is. And his judgments and the actions he takes in accord with those judgments are “true and just.” They are true—that is, they are in accord with reality, with what actually is. They are just—thus, they embody moral goodness, moral rightness. Consequently and ultimately, God both condemns and acts against that which is evil (e.g., “He has condemned the great prostitute” [v. 2a]) and protects and blesses those who worship him alone (e.g., “‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” [v. 9]).
Second, evil is real and is opposed to God’s ways and God’s people. Thus, it is not surprising that John would see “the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the [white] horse and his army” (v. 19). From the garden of Eden to the threshold of the new heavens and new earth the kingdom of Satan opposes, wars against, the kingdom of God. Satan is the father of false prophets and lies. The paths of evil are paths of lies, not truth. They are paths of delusion, not reality. They are path which always run, ultimately, against God and against God’s people.
Third, God in Christ will be victorious over and destroy evil. The conflict between good and evil, between Satan and God, is not “50/50.” The ultimate outcome is clear and certain. God will definitively “strike down” those forces of the world that reject and oppose him (v. 15). They will be like mere grapes crushed in a winepress of divine fury (v. 15). The Great Deluder and all his minions will be “thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (v. 20). Evil will be completely, utterly defeated and destroyed.
Fourth, from the beginning to the end, God is King of kings and Lord of lords. He alone is worthy of worship. John reports that elders and other creatures “fell down and worshipped God, who was seated on the throne” (v. 4). And when John mistakenly fell at the feet of an angel “to worship him,” the angel rebuked him saying, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant . . . . Worship God!” (v. 10). He alone is supreme and he alone will rule over all. “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (v. 16).
Salvation and glory and power belong to this God. Truth and justice are the divine possession of this God. This is the God who prepares the ultimate feast, “the wedding supper of the Lamb” and his bride. Thus, blessed indeed are those who are “invited”—not those who want to be gate-crashers, but those invited by the only God—to the final feast (v. 9). “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. . . . the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (v. 7).
Consider –
╬ There are two feasts mentioned in Revelation 19: “The wedding supper of the Lamb” (v. 9) and “the great supper of God” (v. 17). The wedding supper of the Lamb is by invitation only to those blessed by the Lamb’s sacrifice. The great supper of God is the gathering of gate-crashers who have rejected God and have battled the Lamb alongside Satan. Do you believe that the visions of the future, and the symbolism they represent, described in the book of Revelation “might” come to pass? Will “probably” come to pass? With certainty, will come to pass? Whatever your response, prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to deepen your understanding of and trust in God’s victory and redemption for his people and his creation.
╬ Thank you, Father, for the victory of the Lamb. Thank you for the wedding feast that you are preparing. By your Holy Spirit guide and enable your people to live more fully in the light of the future you have planned and will bring to pass. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.