THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB
Revelation Chapter 19
Praise ye the Lord. "alleluia". We say Hallelujah! This word is used four times in the New Testament all in Chapter 19. Worldwide this word means "Praise ye the Lord". At the time of this rejoicing in Heaven, there will not be anyone anywhere that does not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
1.) Everyone in Hell is a believer now.(to be an unbeliever is the only way to get there)
2.) Everyone in Heaven is a believer.(to be a believer is the only way to get there)
3.) Everyone that is left on Earth at the end of the Great Tribulation will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
4.) Not one unbeliever anywhere!
We know who the Lamb is, He is the Son of God, Jesus Christ!
So who is this "Bride"?
If we continue in God's word we can find the answer.
In the Book of Ephesians we can see the relationship in marriage to Christ and His "Bride":
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
The Lord's Supper illustrates the oneness of the church as Christ's Body:
1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
We can see how Christ loves His Church, His "Bride":
Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 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.
Just as in the Oriental wedding customs, at the betrothal(engagement) the "bride" receives the promise of future blessing with her husband. The church today is an espoused "bride" awaiting her husband's return from glory. The second stage of the Oriental marriage is the wedding itself, when the husband comes to take the "bride" to be with Him.
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 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.
Joh 14:3 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.
and
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
In the Oriental wedding, the wedding feast followed and similarly the true Church, as Christ's "bride".
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 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.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
The Millennial Kingdom cannot happen till these things have taken place!
Our text:
Rev 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
Rev 19:2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
Rev 19:3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
Rev 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
Back in Chapter 18 an angel I believe to be Christ Himself called up to Heaven with these words:
Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
We can see that all those in Heaven will witness the downfall of this Mystery, Babylon the Great and there will be great rejoicing from all that are in Heaven.
That term "after these things"(Rev 18:21-24) refer to this destruction of this Mystery called a "great whore".
Who is rejoicing?
1.) All of Heaven.
2.) The Holy Apostles.
3.) The Holy Prophets.
Verse 1 says "much" people in Heaven:
If we break this down a bit:
"People" means a body of persons. This could be a town, a city or a nation. In our verse we know it means in Heaven.
Now we add the word "much" and we can see the this is a great amount of people. As in (much greater) than we can imagine!
What had Heaven seen?
Those on Earth called these by a different name. They had mourned and lamented on destruction and loss but Heaven saw things differently.
1.) The Salvation of "whosoever" would call on the name of the Lord!
Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
2.) The "glory" of God was still seen even in His wrath.
Isaiah said:
Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Job said:
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Peter said:
Luk 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
We will all be like Thomas in the end:
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
3.) All of Heaven will "honor" Him.
They will reverence Him, worship Him and Adore Him!
Joh 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
4.) They all have witnessed His glorious "power".
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Why?
Because true and righteous are all His judgments!
The Bible says:
Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Isa 25:1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
You see that "thing" had corrupted the entire Earth. Anyone can see that this is happening right before our eyes and after the rapture of the Church it will get much worse until this day of the Lord.
This had happened before, remember the days of Noah.
Gen 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Gen 6:12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Gen 6:13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence [through them]; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Who was this "them"?
This is the same bunch of Satan's
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
(Her "smoke" rose up forever)
This a reference to the "Eternal burning Lake of Fire".
I fully believe that this will take place on this Earth. This will not be seen from Heaven but by God Himself but I believe it is very possible that those in this "burning lake of fire" will be able to see what goes on on the New Heaven and Earth.
The Bible says:
Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
In this scripture in the Book of Luke that man in hell could see Abraham but it does not say Lazarus could see into hell but only Abraham.
The Church, (the Bride) and those Beast in Heaven know of this fulfillment of scripture and we get back to worship the Glorious God of Heaven. What bride would not be proud of her espoused husband.
Our text:
*****Rev 19:5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
Rev 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
There are so many voices in Heaven that when they worship the Lord God in unison it sounds like a great waterfall. All this praise was for only one, the Mighty One Himself, The Omnipotent God, who reigns and will reign forever more.
Omnipotent by the words of the Webster Dictionary mean:
Almighty; possessing unlimited power; all powerful. The being that can create worlds must be omnipotent.
Omnipotent by the words of the Strong Dictionary mean: the all ruling God. Absolute and universal sovereignty. Almighty.
The Thayer Dictionary says:
1.) He who holds sway over all things.
2.) The ruler of ALL things.
3.) The Almighty God.
Our text:
*****Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
It's now time for the wedding but notice the scripture does not say the marriage of the "Bride". It is the Lamb that is full of joy at this time. We must remember God saved us for His sake.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God [for Christ's sake] hath forgiven you.
And again:
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
The "Millennial" Kingdom will not begin until after the wedding ceremony!
So who is this "Bride"?
The scriptures clearly teach that this "bride" is not Israel nor a remnant of Israel but is truly a "Gentile Bride"! She is called out from all races, "WHOSOEVER WILL". Not a specific group nor specific nation.
The promises to Abraham will be completely fulfilled. Israel was the wife of Jehovah but Jehovah divorced her because of her sin. She will be reinstated by Jehovah but she could never be a virgin again. Jesus Christ will marry a virgin:
2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Again:
Eph 5:27 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.
These things cannot be said about Israel!
Who makes up the Church?
All born again believers between Acts 2 where the Church began:
Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And the day of the Rapture:
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
All these that are between these verses are the True Church of Jesus Christ, The Bride of Christ!
The twenty four elders that we met in Revelation Chapter four represent the Church and by the way, after this mention of them in this chapter (19:4) we will not see them mentioned again because the Church will will be married to the Lord. These share and share alike there is no difference in them.
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
1Co 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.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
The Church will no longer be separated from the Lord:
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
1.) Marriage is the first and only institution established by God before the Fall and flood of Noah's day.
2.) The Word of God clearly states that God intended humanity to show the male and female expressions according to the dictates of God's Word.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Another proof of a man and a woman:
Lev 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery [with another man's wife], even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
And another:
Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, [That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart].
3.) Marriage is an intimate union of two persons — a man and a woman. It is a permanent relationship.
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
This mention of "one flesh" takes us back the Genesis:
Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
This wedding as well as involving the climax of this evil age it also seems clear that the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will involve the New Jerusalem, the Holy City. That city is referred to by John as "the wife of the Lamb". It is a city made up of living stones, joined to the Chief Cornerstone of Zion, even the covenant people of God.
1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Unlike Western marriage practices, the Jewish marriage has a greater degree of formalism involving numerous steps:
Jewish marriage included a number of steps: first, betrothal (which involved the prospective groom’s traveling from his father’s house to the home of the prospective bride, paying the purchase price, and thus establishing the marriage covenant); second, the groom’s returning to his father’s house (which meant remaining separate from his bride for 12 months, during which time he prepared the living accommodations for his wife in his father’s house); third, the groom’s coming for his bride at a time not known exactly to her; fourth, his return with her to the groom’s father’s house to consummate the marriage and to celebrate the wedding feast for the next seven days (during which the bride remained closeted in her bridal chamber).
First, the father of the groom made the arrangements for the marriage and paid the bride price. The timing of the arrangement varied. Sometimes it occurred when both children were small, and at other times it was a year before the marriage itself. Often the bride and groom did not even meet until their wedding day. The second step, which occurred a year or more after the first step, was the fetching of the bride. The bridegroom would go to the home of the bride in order to bring her to his home. In connection with this step, two other things should be noted. First, it was the father of the groom who determined the timing. Second, prior to the groom’s leaving to fetch the bride, he must already have a place prepared for her as their abode. This was followed by the third step, the wedding ceremony, to which a few would be invited. Prior to the wedding ceremony, the bride underwent a ritual immersion for ritual cleansing. The fourth step, the marriage feast, would follow and could last for as many as seven days. Many more people would be invited to the feast than were to the marriage ceremony. In the Marriage of the Lamb all four of these steps of the Jewish wedding ceremony are evident.
As we have seen, the OT represents Israel as the wife of Jehovah. Although she has been unfaithful and divorced by her Husband, a time is coming when "all Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:26). At that time, Jehovah will take her back as His wife:
I will call them My people who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people." There they shall be called sons of the living God. (Rom. 9:25-26 cf. Hos. 2:23; Hos. 1:10)29
In the meantime, those who accept Messiah Jesus are baptized into His body (1Cor. 12:13). In the same way that Eve was literally "one flesh" with Adam, having been taken from his side (Gen. 2:21-24), so believers are joined into the spiritual body of Christ and betrothed to Him. During Jacob’s Trouble and the Great Tribulation, the wife of Jehovah is being purified on earth in preparation for her restoration during the Millennial Kingdom to follow. At the same time, the bride of Christ is in her bridal chamber, having been taken in the Rapture and wed to Him at the marriage of the Lamb.
Later, after the Millennial Kingdom has come to a close and a new heavens and new earth are created, the holy city, the New Jerusalem, is prepared by Jehovah as a bride adorned for her husband—the Lamb (Rev. 21:2+, 9+). The long-unfulfilled promises of the restoration of Jerusalem, which found their initial fulfillment in the Millennial Kingdom (Isa. 62), will come to final fruition in the New Jerusalem where all the redeemed of all ages are in union with God and the Lamb Who are its temple (Rev. 21:22+). This is the ultimate consummation of all the redeemed.
Our text:
*****Rev 19:8 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.
We know the "bride" of Christ is prepared at the Bema Seat of judgment just after the Rapture of the Church.
Revelation 4:4 told us the twenty four elders were dressed in white raiment. They had been given their crowns.
Revelation 4:10 told us that they had cast those crowns at the feet of Jesus.
Giving thanks to Christ
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
With all shame gone then come righteousness.
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Then the wedding garments:
We knew our righteousness was as filthy rags:
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and [all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags]; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Now our righteousness can only come through Christ:
Rom 3:22 [Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe]: for there is no difference:
And:
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The pure white linen signifies God's Holiness in the linen worn by the "bride". The Church is now spotless and without blemish.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 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.
1.)We will have the Rapture.(Christ comes after His bride)
2.) The judgment seat of Christ.(The bride prepared)
3.) The Marriage.(Revelation 19:7)
4.) Christ will return with His Bride.(Revelation 19:14)
Our text:
*****Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, [These are the true sayings of God].
Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Even God's precious saints in Heaven are something to look upon but it is God that we will worship!
Let's Pray!
Revelation Chapter 19
Praise ye the Lord. "alleluia". We say Hallelujah! This word is used four times in the New Testament all in Chapter 19. Worldwide this word means "Praise ye the Lord". At the time of this rejoicing in Heaven, there will not be anyone anywhere that does not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
1.) Everyone in Hell is a believer now.(to be an unbeliever is the only way to get there)
2.) Everyone in Heaven is a believer.(to be a believer is the only way to get there)
3.) Everyone that is left on Earth at the end of the Great Tribulation will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
4.) Not one unbeliever anywhere!
We know who the Lamb is, He is the Son of God, Jesus Christ!
So who is this "Bride"?
If we continue in God's word we can find the answer.
In the Book of Ephesians we can see the relationship in marriage to Christ and His "Bride":
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
The Lord's Supper illustrates the oneness of the church as Christ's Body:
1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
We can see how Christ loves His Church, His "Bride":
Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 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.
Just as in the Oriental wedding customs, at the betrothal(engagement) the "bride" receives the promise of future blessing with her husband. The church today is an espoused "bride" awaiting her husband's return from glory. The second stage of the Oriental marriage is the wedding itself, when the husband comes to take the "bride" to be with Him.
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 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.
Joh 14:3 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.
and
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
In the Oriental wedding, the wedding feast followed and similarly the true Church, as Christ's "bride".
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 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.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
The Millennial Kingdom cannot happen till these things have taken place!
Our text:
Rev 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
Rev 19:2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
Rev 19:3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
Rev 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
Back in Chapter 18 an angel I believe to be Christ Himself called up to Heaven with these words:
Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
We can see that all those in Heaven will witness the downfall of this Mystery, Babylon the Great and there will be great rejoicing from all that are in Heaven.
That term "after these things"(Rev 18:21-24) refer to this destruction of this Mystery called a "great whore".
Who is rejoicing?
1.) All of Heaven.
2.) The Holy Apostles.
3.) The Holy Prophets.
Verse 1 says "much" people in Heaven:
If we break this down a bit:
"People" means a body of persons. This could be a town, a city or a nation. In our verse we know it means in Heaven.
Now we add the word "much" and we can see the this is a great amount of people. As in (much greater) than we can imagine!
What had Heaven seen?
Those on Earth called these by a different name. They had mourned and lamented on destruction and loss but Heaven saw things differently.
1.) The Salvation of "whosoever" would call on the name of the Lord!
Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
2.) The "glory" of God was still seen even in His wrath.
Isaiah said:
Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Job said:
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Peter said:
Luk 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
We will all be like Thomas in the end:
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
3.) All of Heaven will "honor" Him.
They will reverence Him, worship Him and Adore Him!
Joh 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
4.) They all have witnessed His glorious "power".
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Why?
Because true and righteous are all His judgments!
The Bible says:
Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Isa 25:1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
You see that "thing" had corrupted the entire Earth. Anyone can see that this is happening right before our eyes and after the rapture of the Church it will get much worse until this day of the Lord.
This had happened before, remember the days of Noah.
Gen 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Gen 6:12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Gen 6:13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence [through them]; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Who was this "them"?
This is the same bunch of Satan's
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
(Her "smoke" rose up forever)
This a reference to the "Eternal burning Lake of Fire".
I fully believe that this will take place on this Earth. This will not be seen from Heaven but by God Himself but I believe it is very possible that those in this "burning lake of fire" will be able to see what goes on on the New Heaven and Earth.
The Bible says:
Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
In this scripture in the Book of Luke that man in hell could see Abraham but it does not say Lazarus could see into hell but only Abraham.
The Church, (the Bride) and those Beast in Heaven know of this fulfillment of scripture and we get back to worship the Glorious God of Heaven. What bride would not be proud of her espoused husband.
Our text:
*****Rev 19:5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
Rev 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
There are so many voices in Heaven that when they worship the Lord God in unison it sounds like a great waterfall. All this praise was for only one, the Mighty One Himself, The Omnipotent God, who reigns and will reign forever more.
Omnipotent by the words of the Webster Dictionary mean:
Almighty; possessing unlimited power; all powerful. The being that can create worlds must be omnipotent.
Omnipotent by the words of the Strong Dictionary mean: the all ruling God. Absolute and universal sovereignty. Almighty.
The Thayer Dictionary says:
1.) He who holds sway over all things.
2.) The ruler of ALL things.
3.) The Almighty God.
Our text:
*****Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
It's now time for the wedding but notice the scripture does not say the marriage of the "Bride". It is the Lamb that is full of joy at this time. We must remember God saved us for His sake.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God [for Christ's sake] hath forgiven you.
And again:
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
The "Millennial" Kingdom will not begin until after the wedding ceremony!
So who is this "Bride"?
The scriptures clearly teach that this "bride" is not Israel nor a remnant of Israel but is truly a "Gentile Bride"! She is called out from all races, "WHOSOEVER WILL". Not a specific group nor specific nation.
The promises to Abraham will be completely fulfilled. Israel was the wife of Jehovah but Jehovah divorced her because of her sin. She will be reinstated by Jehovah but she could never be a virgin again. Jesus Christ will marry a virgin:
2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Again:
Eph 5:27 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.
These things cannot be said about Israel!
Who makes up the Church?
All born again believers between Acts 2 where the Church began:
Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And the day of the Rapture:
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
All these that are between these verses are the True Church of Jesus Christ, The Bride of Christ!
The twenty four elders that we met in Revelation Chapter four represent the Church and by the way, after this mention of them in this chapter (19:4) we will not see them mentioned again because the Church will will be married to the Lord. These share and share alike there is no difference in them.
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
1Co 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.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
The Church will no longer be separated from the Lord:
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
1.) Marriage is the first and only institution established by God before the Fall and flood of Noah's day.
2.) The Word of God clearly states that God intended humanity to show the male and female expressions according to the dictates of God's Word.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Another proof of a man and a woman:
Lev 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery [with another man's wife], even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
And another:
Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, [That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart].
3.) Marriage is an intimate union of two persons — a man and a woman. It is a permanent relationship.
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
This mention of "one flesh" takes us back the Genesis:
Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
This wedding as well as involving the climax of this evil age it also seems clear that the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will involve the New Jerusalem, the Holy City. That city is referred to by John as "the wife of the Lamb". It is a city made up of living stones, joined to the Chief Cornerstone of Zion, even the covenant people of God.
1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Unlike Western marriage practices, the Jewish marriage has a greater degree of formalism involving numerous steps:
Jewish marriage included a number of steps: first, betrothal (which involved the prospective groom’s traveling from his father’s house to the home of the prospective bride, paying the purchase price, and thus establishing the marriage covenant); second, the groom’s returning to his father’s house (which meant remaining separate from his bride for 12 months, during which time he prepared the living accommodations for his wife in his father’s house); third, the groom’s coming for his bride at a time not known exactly to her; fourth, his return with her to the groom’s father’s house to consummate the marriage and to celebrate the wedding feast for the next seven days (during which the bride remained closeted in her bridal chamber).
First, the father of the groom made the arrangements for the marriage and paid the bride price. The timing of the arrangement varied. Sometimes it occurred when both children were small, and at other times it was a year before the marriage itself. Often the bride and groom did not even meet until their wedding day. The second step, which occurred a year or more after the first step, was the fetching of the bride. The bridegroom would go to the home of the bride in order to bring her to his home. In connection with this step, two other things should be noted. First, it was the father of the groom who determined the timing. Second, prior to the groom’s leaving to fetch the bride, he must already have a place prepared for her as their abode. This was followed by the third step, the wedding ceremony, to which a few would be invited. Prior to the wedding ceremony, the bride underwent a ritual immersion for ritual cleansing. The fourth step, the marriage feast, would follow and could last for as many as seven days. Many more people would be invited to the feast than were to the marriage ceremony. In the Marriage of the Lamb all four of these steps of the Jewish wedding ceremony are evident.
As we have seen, the OT represents Israel as the wife of Jehovah. Although she has been unfaithful and divorced by her Husband, a time is coming when "all Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:26). At that time, Jehovah will take her back as His wife:
I will call them My people who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people." There they shall be called sons of the living God. (Rom. 9:25-26 cf. Hos. 2:23; Hos. 1:10)29
In the meantime, those who accept Messiah Jesus are baptized into His body (1Cor. 12:13). In the same way that Eve was literally "one flesh" with Adam, having been taken from his side (Gen. 2:21-24), so believers are joined into the spiritual body of Christ and betrothed to Him. During Jacob’s Trouble and the Great Tribulation, the wife of Jehovah is being purified on earth in preparation for her restoration during the Millennial Kingdom to follow. At the same time, the bride of Christ is in her bridal chamber, having been taken in the Rapture and wed to Him at the marriage of the Lamb.
Later, after the Millennial Kingdom has come to a close and a new heavens and new earth are created, the holy city, the New Jerusalem, is prepared by Jehovah as a bride adorned for her husband—the Lamb (Rev. 21:2+, 9+). The long-unfulfilled promises of the restoration of Jerusalem, which found their initial fulfillment in the Millennial Kingdom (Isa. 62), will come to final fruition in the New Jerusalem where all the redeemed of all ages are in union with God and the Lamb Who are its temple (Rev. 21:22+). This is the ultimate consummation of all the redeemed.
Our text:
*****Rev 19:8 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.
We know the "bride" of Christ is prepared at the Bema Seat of judgment just after the Rapture of the Church.
Revelation 4:4 told us the twenty four elders were dressed in white raiment. They had been given their crowns.
Revelation 4:10 told us that they had cast those crowns at the feet of Jesus.
Giving thanks to Christ
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
With all shame gone then come righteousness.
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Then the wedding garments:
We knew our righteousness was as filthy rags:
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and [all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags]; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Now our righteousness can only come through Christ:
Rom 3:22 [Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe]: for there is no difference:
And:
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The pure white linen signifies God's Holiness in the linen worn by the "bride". The Church is now spotless and without blemish.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 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.
1.)We will have the Rapture.(Christ comes after His bride)
2.) The judgment seat of Christ.(The bride prepared)
3.) The Marriage.(Revelation 19:7)
4.) Christ will return with His Bride.(Revelation 19:14)
Our text:
*****Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, [These are the true sayings of God].
Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Even God's precious saints in Heaven are something to look upon but it is God that we will worship!
Let's Pray!
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