Good morning,
This week we will look at Revelation 19-20. It begins with praise in heaven and ends with judgement for those who were not found in the book of life.
1) Praise in Heaven (19:1-5)
“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: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.3 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.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.”
Chapters 19 and 20 bring the climax of the Book of Revelation: the return of Christ to establish His millennial kingdom. But first, these five verses show heaven’s response to the judgement of the harlot. The multitude in heaven praises God for judging the great whore (Babylon, the harlot) and avenging the blood of the martyrs (cf. 7:9-17).
2) The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (19:6-10)
“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.7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.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.10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
The marriage of the Lamb: The wife or bride of Christ is the church (cf. Matt.22:2-14, John 3:29, 2 Cor. 11:2, Eph. 5:25-32), and is the eternal union of the church with Christ following the rapture (cf. 1 Thess. 4:17).
The marriage supper of the Lamb will take place after the Church has been taken to Heaven in the Rapture and following the judgment seat of Christ, but it will happen before we return with Christ to earth at His glorious appearing. This means the marriage of the lamb and the marriage supper of lamb will all take place in heaven.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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