John Brown :: Revelation 19:1-10

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Last week we studied about commercial Babylon in chapter 18!

1. Commercial Babylon being that part of the ant-Christian system that gives politics its power = MONEY!

a) We saw satan's capitol city of Babylon, as the dwelling place of not just many demon possessed leaders, but demon "masters", high up in the chain of command of Satan's armies.

(1) Those spoken about in Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (NKJV)

b) We saw the "buyers and sellers" in great despair as the Lord destroyed Babylon forever!

(1) But, it was not true repentance but grief over the loss of money and power.

c) We saw an end to spiritual Babylon in chapter 17 and an end to commercial Babylon in chapter 18.

(1) We must keep in mind that the main power behind Babylon, GOT OUT!

(a) The dragon and the beast and the false prophet are en route to the great battle of Armageddon!

(2) Now we move into what is probably the most beautiful part of the Revelation.

(a) Seeing Jesus return as KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS!

II. REVELATION 19:1-3 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 "For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." 3 Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" (NKJV)

A. Verse 1 contains the famous HALLELUJAH CHORUS!

1. As the "great multitude" in heaven break out in praise to the Lord!

2. The word hallelujah is a combination of hallal = "praise", and yah = short for "Jehovah".

a) So the meaning is actually "praise ye the Lord".

B. In the New Testament, it occurs only in this chapter and is used 4 times in verses 1 through 6!!!

1. The saints have already praised Him for creation (in Revelation 4:11, and for redemption (in Revelation 5:12,13).

2. Now they praise Him for salvation, and ascribe glory and honor, and power to His name!

a) You see, He has destroyed Babylon!

(1) An answer to thousands if not millions of prayers over centuries of time!!!

3. Once again the Lord's judgments are proclaimed as "true and righteous".

a) Unnumbered millions will be destined to the lake of fire because of the spiritual seductions of Babylon!

b) A second Hallelujah is proclaimed, "Praise be to God" for his justice against Babylon!

(1) And John makes a point to let us know that the smoky smell of her judgment will be an eternal reminder that God is just!

III. REVELATION 19:4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!" (NKJV)

A. As we have said in the past, the 24 Elders represent all the redeemed saints and the 4 cherubim represent all the angels.

1. This is a picture of all the HOST OF HEAVEN worshiping the Lord!

2. The word worship is proskuneo and it means to kiss the hand of the Lord!

a) In the East (still today in some countries), people will bow down in front of royalty and kiss their hand (or place it on their forehead) as a sign of loyal subjection!

b) Worship is simply "bowing down to the will of God".

(1) That is very difficult to do sometimes, when His will is different that what we want!

(2) But, true worship is "bowing down" in obedient faith, even when we don't understand. When times are the darkest!

(3) As Dr. Henry Morris puts it, "The will of God may be difficult, but the will of God is best."

c) Notice what all of heaven is saying, "Amen; Hallelujah."

(1) Which translates, "So be it - praise the Lord!"

(2) This reminds me of another, and what was probably the greatest example of worship that we have ever seen!

(a) It was in the Garden when Jesus faced His darkest hour as a man yet He said, "Father, not my will, but thine be done!"

(b) He "bowed own" to the will of His father.

IV. REVELATION 19:5-7 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" 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! 7 &Quot;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." (NKJV)

A. Since this voice comes from the throne where the Lord is seated, it is most likely the Jesus Himself.

1. Just as he gave His Father praise in His darkest hour, here we see Him as the greatest worship leader of all time!

2. Leading the largest congregation since time began "the voice of a great multitude, the voice of many waters, the voice of mighty thunderings" closing with the 4th and final hallelujah of the New Testament and extolling His power!

a) It is a time of great rejoicing because the time of the Lord's marriage to the church has come! THE APEX OF ALL SCRIPTURE! What all eternity has waited for!

B. THE BRIDE IS FINALLY READY!

1. The portrait of this heavenly "marriage" has been painted throughout man's history and throughout God's word.

a) Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (NKJV)

b) Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 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. (NKJV)

c) Ephesians 5:30-32 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (NKJV)

(1) The Lord has always wanted to be married to one,(monogamy - and the church is referred to in the feminine - not Adam and Steve)

(a) And the Lord has always wanted to have that "one" be faithful to Him, but that has not always been the case!

(2) Hosea 2:7 tells us about God's people Israel and their unfaithfulness, She will chase her lovers, But not overtake them; Yes, she will seek them, but not find them. Then she will say, 'I will go and return to my first husband, For then it was better for me than now.' (NKJV)

(3) It hasn't been just Israel!, many of us have at one time in our lives been unfaithful to the Lord!

(a) It's kinda like the story of Ray Helminiak who in lousy spring weather, would switched from country lanes to shopping malls for his daily stroll. There the weather was always under control, and was great for people watching. "One day, I noticed a senior citizen couple strolling along, holding hands," Ray said. The next day, I saw the same couple, and this time they were not only holding hands, the man had a firm grip on his wife's elbow. When he got home, Ray thought to himself how grand their relationship must be, even after so many years together, raising a family and how they are now slowing down to take life a little easier. "Would you believe I saw them again the next time I was at the mall?" Ray said. "Now they were not only holding hands, the husband had his arm around his wife's waist." Ray said he couldn't resist the urge to talk to them. "I hope you don't think me too forward," Ray said, "but I just want you to know how happy it makes me, and I'm sure many others, to see this display of affection among older married folks." The man looked Ray right in the eye and said, "Son, if I let go of her one darn second, she'll start shopping,"

(4) Many have worshiped other Gods including ourselves!

(5) But, when repentance comes, the Lord is quick to forgive!

V. REVELATION 19:8-9 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. 9 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." (NKJV)

A. The Bride's old garments were the "filthy rags" of self righteousness, idol worship, and spiritual adultery!

1. The beautiful part is that she knows and has accepted her hopeless condition!

2. She has also accepted the forgiveness of her faithful husband, the Lord!

a) Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (NKJV)

b) The Bride has become "righteous" simply by realizing her lost condition, and accepting the Lord's forgiveness!

c) The Lord tells John to remind everyone by his writings, that Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

d) Who has been "called" to this "marriage supper"?

(1) Matthew 22:1-6 gives a little insight as to who this group is: 1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 "Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' 5 "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 "And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.

(a) You see, Jesus has invited everyone to accept His forgiveness and to be clothed with the wedding garments of righteousness, but not everyone will accept!

(i) As in the parable, there are always a million excuses.

e) There is yet another parable that speaks of another group that misses the wedding!

(1) Matthew 25:1-12 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 "Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 "but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' 7 "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 "And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 "But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' 10 "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' 12 "But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' (NKJV)

(a) The first group of people we excluded from the wedding by their own choice!

(b) In the second parable 1/2 of the people were excluded by their own negligence!

(i) Notice they were anticipating the bridegroom, but were gone when he arrived!

(ii) Could it be that this group represents all those who call themselves "Christians" and maybe even attend church thinking they are saved and safe, but in reality they have never placed a "saving" faith in the Lord!

(iii) Secure in their "religion", but in reality very, very lost!

(iv) Matthew 7:22-23 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (NKJV)

(2) Notice, that the Bridegroom furnishes the only garment that is acceptable at this wedding! Matthew 22:11-13 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 "So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 "Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'

(3) If Jesus is not Lord of all He is not Lord at all!!

VI. REVELATION 19:10 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." (NKJV)

A. The Lord and the Lord alone is to be worshiped!

1. Not our denomination, not our churches, not our leaders, just Jesus!

a) If our denomination, or our church, or for that matter our leaders get in the way of that precious relationship, it is time for a change!

b) Maybe it is to this group of people, who let "things" become more important that the Lord, that He will say, "I never knew you; depart from Me,"

(Written by a pastor whose wife has Alzheimer's) The seminary board arranged for a companion to stay in our home so I could go daily to the office. During those two years it became increasingly difficult to keep Muriel at home. As soon as I left, she would take out after me. With me, she was content; without me, she was distressed, sometimes terror-stricken. The walk to the office is a mile round trip. She would make that trip as many as ten times a day. Sometimes at night, when I helped her undress, I found bloody feet. When I told our family doctor, he choked up and said, "I have never seen such love".