Latest / WDAC Podcasts / The Voice of Hope - The Marriage of the Lamb || Revelation 19:6-10

Transcript

The Voice of Hope - The Marriage of the Lamb || Revelation 19:6-10 · WDAC Podcasts

• 0:00
  Speaker A: I now can sing Since I've been redeemed I'm on the everlasting, everlasting rock I faith in Christ my Redeemer King I'm on the everlasting, everlasting rock Then row, row pillows row Stand up and bless the Lord. Our throne Stand up and bless.
• 1:55
  Speaker B: Hello and welcome to the Voice of Hope, a Bible teaching program that's produced by Heralds of Hope. I'm your host Anthony High. In this episode, we're continuing our study through the Book of Revelation. Before today's teaching, I have exciting news about several upcoming events. During the last week of October, we have several in person banquet and music events. Also, if you or your children or your grandchildren love to read, check out our upcoming readathon in December. Please visit our website@heraldsofhope.org events to learn more. And now join us as J. Mark Horse teaches From Revelation chapter 19, verses 6 to 10 all of us
• 2:48
  Speaker C: have been to Weddings in most cultures, weddings are happy, festive occasions. They include things like music and feasting and dancing, revelry and, depending on the culture, other activities or traditions. But only weddings centered on Christ are capable of true joy. Why is that true? Because the participants know that God designed marriage to illustrate Christ's relationship with his church, and the couple realizes that they are entering a binding covenant relationship for life and they need Jesus as the third strand of the threefold cord that Solomon wrote about in Ecclesiastes chapter 4 and verse 12 to ensure that their relationship endures as long as they live. Recently I had the privilege of attending a wedding in my extended family and because it was the uniting of two committed Christians, it was a joyous celebration. It began with a time of worship and praise to God. And I think that's very appropriate because marriage was God's idea and he is worthy of our praise. And then the pastor who delivered the wedding sermon emphasized the solemnity and the permanence of this biblical covenant. He also emphasized the joy that comes when husband and wife fill their biblical roles. The guests presence, whether they realized it or not, signified that they had a role in holding this newlywed couple accountable for the vows that they had just made to each other before God. The New Testament makes it undeniably clear that the church is the bride of Christ. However, it is also clear that the marriage has not yet been consummated. The bride has not yet been taken to the home of the groom. Paul's teachings support this conclusion. In 2 Corinthians 11:2 Paul wrote for I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. And then further, in the familiar passage from Ephesians 5:25 27, he wrote this, Husbands, love your wives. Just as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for her, that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that he might present her to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Both of those texts speak of the way the bride is being prepared for her wedding. Our text for today is Revelation, chapter 19 and verses 6 to 10. Here is recorded the marriage supper of the Lamb, and the scenes that John saw included worship, the readiness of the bride, the blessing on the guests, and closed with a final reminder of Jesus preeminence. So I invite you to follow along carefully as I read this portion of Holy scripture, Revelation chapter 19, beginning with verse 6. 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. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give him glory. For the marriage feast of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready, 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. 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. And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, see that you do not do that. I am your fellow servant and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. This text invites us to stand with the Apostle John and view the awesome scenes of the Marriage of the Lamb. Hopefully it will increase our anticipation of this blessed event. The first scene is the preparation of the bride. To understand the opening phrase of verse seven, we must know what came before it. And that's why I included verse six in my reading, even though we covered it in the previous episode. Verse 6 records the great multitude proclaiming Alleluia for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. And because God reigns, the multitude is exhorted to keep on being glad and rejoicing and giving him glory. The first three alleluias in this chapter Focus on God's righteous judgment on Babylon and her wickedness. Righteousness has finally triumphed once and for all. Mystery Babylon, the harlot, the false religion, has been swept away. And the faithful, true woman, the bride of Christ, is about to receive her rightful honors. The betrothed, who has waited so long through persecution and contempt and sacrifice, now becomes the bride. And then the final alleluia rejoices in the anticipation of the Lamb's marriage. Heaven is called to rejoice because the marriage feast of the Lamb has come at last. The bride has prepared herself for this moment. How did she do that? She submitted herself to the cleansing, sanctifying power of the Word that we read about earlier in Ephesians 5. And the apostle John also wrote, beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, and for we shall see him as he is. Now listen. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. So we prepare ourselves by purifying ourselves and living holy lives. There are other scriptures that regard the bride's preparation. They would include Jude 1:21 and 2 Corinthians 7:1. I would remind you, however, that Ephesians 5:25 27 shows us that Christ's act is the primary preparation because he is the one who sanctifies and cleanses his bride. Now, as I said in my introduction, the Lamb's bride is without a doubt the church. A pre tribulational rapture is consistent with the great multitude of tribulation saints who see the Lamb's wife as an entity other than themselves. In the Old Testament, Israel is called the wife of Jehovah, while the New Testament church is called the Bride of Christ. Now, for us to understand what is happening in our text, we must have some understanding of Jewish wedding customs. When John wrote the Book of Revelation, I learned that a Jewish wedding had four stages. The marriage arrangement came first. In this stage, the groom's father met with the bride's father and paid the bride price. And that often occurred when the bride and groom were children. I know that seems strange to us in our culture, but that's the way it was. In fact, in some arrangements, the couple never saw each other until their wedding day. This was the experience of Arnold Fruchtenbaum's grandparents. He's a Jewish believer in Yeshua, and I've deeply appreciated his book the Footsteps of the Messiah, in my study of Revelation, and I would recommend that book to you. The Footsteps of the Messiah by Arnold Fruchtenbaum. The next stage, then, of the marriage was called the fetching of the bride. After at least a year, and sometimes much longer than that, the groom would go to the bride's home and bring her back to his hometown. There she would undergo her ritual cleansing, or what is called mikveh. And after that the wedding would take place, marking the third stage, and a small group of family and close friends usually attended the marriage ceremony. The final stage was the wedding feast, which traditionally lasted for seven days, and many more people were invited to the feast than were invited to the actual wedding. Now I want you to remember these two details of the third and fourth stages because they impact our understanding of the text. So let's transfer this wedding sequence to Jesus and his bride, the Church. The first stage was fulfilled when God the Father of the groom made the arrangement and paid the bride price. That was the blood of His Son. Ephesians chapter 5, verse 22 and 23. Stage 2. The fetching of the bride will occur at the Rapture when Jesus comes to bring his bride home, according to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and verses 13 to 18. And just as a long time could pass between these first two stages of the Jewish wedding, so it is with the church. Only the Father knows the timing of this event. But in the interim, Jesus is preparing the place for his bride, as he told us in John 14. He said to his disciples, don't let your heart be troubled. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare that place for you, I will come again so that where I am, you can be with me. And that promise is for you and me as well. The third stage, then, the marriage ceremony will take place in heaven just before Christ's second coming, as described in our text. The wedding announcement will be made. The bride will be fully prepared, verse 7. She will be wearing her finished bridal gown. And I want you to notice that Christ gives her the bridal dress as a gift. It is described as fine linen, clean and bright. Because the fine linen is the righteousnesses. Yes, that's plural, the righteousnesses of the saints. So we have a positional righteousness, and then we also have a practical righteousness that is determined by our deeds. And so that tells me that the bema judgment of 2 Corinthians 5:10 is completed before this scene occurs in 2 Corinthians 3. 11. Paul wrote, for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now, if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear for the day the day is capitalized, that's the day of judgment will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test each one's work of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved yet so as through fire. So this is not a judgment of sin for salvation, but a judgment of our works and the basis of our rewards. They are part of this fine linen of the robe of righteousness. And I point out that that corresponds to the ritual cleansing of the Jewish wedding practices. Christ will reward us according to our faithfulness, and the rewards we receive will make up the wedding gown. Dr. Lehman Strauss wrote this, and I'm quoting. Has it ever occurred to you that at the marriage of the bride to the lamb, each of us will be wearing the wedding garment at least partly of our own making? End of quote. That's a solemn thought. The final stage of the Jewish wedding is the marriage feast. And that leads us to the next scene in the Marriage of the Lamb. Now, remember that for the marriage ceremony, the guests are few, but then many are invited to the marriage feast. So this next scene we want to look at is the blessing of the guests. In verse nine, the angel commands John to write the fourth Beatitude of this Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. So who are the guests? Who are those who are invited to the marriage feast? Now, as we explore this question, I will share with you my conclusions, and I hope to do it humbly and with a teachable spirit. And please, please remember that the goal of the Book of Revelation is to unveil God's plan, not to obscure it. Now, that being said, some things are hard to understand, and some will likely only be understood by those who live during this period of time. Can we agree that those invited to the marriage supper as guests are not part of the bride of Christ the Church? That seems logical to me. The bride has a relationship with the bridegroom that belongs to her alone. However, the guests are her companions and her associates. If all saved persons throughout history were actually the bride, then it would have been enough to say, blessed are those who are called to be the wife of the lamb. Joseph Sais and Arnold Fruchtenbaum, whom I mentioned earlier, and others believe the guests are the saints of the Old Testament and those who will embrace Christ during the Tribulation, who will soon in that setting, be resurrected. And that resonates with me, because the blessedness of the marriage supper extends beyond the bride, even though she has this special place of honor that belongs to her alone. You might recall that John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets, and According to John 3:27 30, he did not include himself as part of the bride, but rather as a friend of the bridegroom. So keep in mind that while this feast is held in honor of the bride and groom and will be glorious beyond our imagination, they certainly are not going to celebrate alone. Whoever in any language or tribe or people down through the ages, has trusted in Jesus, the promised seed of the woman, and has embraced God's call and his promises, they will also be there, whether they're bride or guest. The whole assembly of the firstborn, from Adam down to the last martyr of the Tribulation, will be there. They will be glad and rejoicing and giving him glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has prepared herself. And then further, what is the marriage feast? You know, even in our culture, the marriage ceremony and the wedding reception are. Are not the same. The Bible speaks of this feast many times immediately after God's pronouncement of judgment on the wicked in chapter 24 Isaiah, chapter 25, verses 6 to 8 says, and in this mountain that would be Mount Zion, the Lord of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well refined wines on the lees. And he will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all the people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever. And the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces. The rebuke of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. Now, that promise has never been fulfilled in the past, so that means it's still in the future of this marriage feast. Joseph Seiss writes, and I'm just as Melchizedek, king of righteousness and king of peace, brought forth bread and wine to Abraham, returning from the scenes of judgment upon the marauding kings. You can read about that in Genesis 14. So will he whom Melchizedek typified, that is the Lord Jesus, spread before his victorious people the precious delicacies of a heavenly banquet, of which our Holy Lord's Supper is the constant prophecy and foretaste. And that's the end of the quote. Jesus spoke to his disciples about this feast In Matthew, chapter 26, 28, 29, in the context of their final paschal meal. He said, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. We do not know what kind of food we will eat at that marriage celebration, but we can be sure it will be of the finest quality. And we should be awaiting that day with anticipation. And what confidence can we have in this blessedness that we live for and die for? The angel's words. These are the true words of God. So these things are not just in our imagination. No. There is a lamb once slain, now risen and glorified. He is moving, serene and mighty, amidst the principalities of eternity. He himself is the highest of them all, the one to whom all believers stand betrothed and pledged. They are preparing. They are waiting for the wedding day to come when they shall be joined him in fellowship and glory and dominion forever. A city of gold and light and jewels is being built for God's people for many ages, going back to Jesus. Words in John 14. And it's now nearing completion for our everlasting habitation. A banquet awaits when the honored bride meets her groom. And this call, if we heed it, is man's greatest blessedness. No room remains for doubt.
• 21:46
  Speaker B: Why?
• 21:47
  Speaker C: Because the angel said, these are the true words of God. And then, as the overpowering reality of these promises sinks into John's consciousness, we observe the final scene in the Marriage of the Lamb. The final scene is the command of the angel. I want you to try to put yourself in John's shoes. Remember, he has been banished to the desolate isle of Patmos. Why? Because of his commitment to Jesus. He has had to leave behind his flock of believers in Ephesus. They have lost their senior shepherd and they're facing severe persecution. And John's letters reveal how deeply he loved and cared for these people. This amazing vision and the angel's message so thrilled John's soul and stimulated his sense of wonder and worship that he fell on his face before the angel. The entrancing magnificence of the final portion of the saints, the overwhelming majesty of the glory to come when the bridegroom appears, bent John's soul in awe, even toward the messenger who gave him the news he either felt that the angel represented God, or perhaps he was beside himself with excitement at this glorious vision of the final consummation. Immediately, the angel prevents him from acting on his impulse. Do not do that because I am your fellow servant. Instead, worship God. Because the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. I take that to mean that prophecy is designed to unfold the beauty and the loveliness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In the present age, our day. The Spirit of God is not only to glorify Christ, but to show believers things to come as they relate to his person and his majesty. We read that in John 16:13, Jesus is the source of all prophecy, and all prophecy moves toward its fulfillment by him with a view toward his glory. And so a true prophet, inspired by the Holy Spirit will testify that God was indeed incarnate in the man Jesus Christ. Therefore, Jesus is God, and he is to be worshiped, but him alone. After viewing these scenes from the marriage supper of the Lamb, how do you respond? What's the condition of your heart? You've been invited to be a part of the bride of Christ and to be present at the marriage supper of the Lamb. How have you responded? The cry has long been ringing in your ears. Behold, the bridegroom comes. Are you spiritually alert with your lights burning like those who wait for their Lord? Or maybe you're like the evil servant in Matthew 24:45 51 who is partying and abusing others to get what they want. Jesus said, even so, Christ will come on a day when you are not looking for him, at an hour that you are not aware of, and will cut you in two and appoint you a portion. With the hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. God forbid that that should be your experience or mine.
• 25:15
  Speaker A: Are you dressed for the wedding? Have you washed your robes? Are you dressed for the banquet? Are you ready to go? Are your lamps trimmed Burning with the spirit's light? Are you ready for the wedding? If the groom comes to night? Have you heard that there's a wedding and it's coming soon? I know the whole wide world's invited Are you ready now to go? Oh, there will be a banquet Won't you come and dine? See the King of all the ages Turning water into wine? Are you dressed for the wedding? Have you washed your robes? Are you dressed for the banquet? Are you ready to go? Or your lamps trimmed and burning with the spirit's light? Are you ready for the wedding? If the groom comes tonight when you hear that trumpet sounding on a bright and glorious day. When you hear the angels singing, you will up and fly away. There will be a celebration like none the world has known on that everlasting morning when the Lord comes for his Are you dressed for the wedding? Have you washed your robes? Are you dressed for the banquet? Are you ready to go? Are your lamps trimmed burning with the Spirit's light? Are you ready for the wedding? If the groom comes tonight,
• 26:48
  Speaker B: that concludes today's teaching in Revelation. Most young girls dream of their wedding. They have opinions about colors and venues and dresses. And while that may be a stretch for us grown ups, I think there is a sense that we should also long for the day where we will attend that marriage of the Lamb. Is this your longing? Will you be part of the marriage of the Lamb? I trust that you will be. And if you aren't certain, please contact us. We'd love to share the good News of Jesus Christ with you. If today's teaching has encouraged you, we'd love to hear from you. Your stories and responses mean so much to us. You can reach out to us at heraldsofhope.org contact or by email at hope heraldsofhope.org or by phone at 866-960-0292. To explore more Bible teaching and encouragement, please visit heraldsofhope.org programs. You can also listen to and share the Voice of Hope wherever you get your podcasts. As I mentioned at the beginning of the program, check out our upcoming events in Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York, as well as a readathon by contacting our office or by visiting heraldsofhope.org events. We do ask that you RSVP for any of the banquet events as soon as possible. Thank you for listening to the Voice of Hope.
• 28:35
  Speaker A: Are you dressed for the wedding? Have you washed your robes? Are you dressed for the banquet? Are you ready to go? Are your lamps trimmed and burning with the spirit light? Are you ready for the wedding? If the bridegroom comes tonight.