Rev. 19:1-9
Look, I believe in complete honesty. Not just avoiding lying, but putting everything up front for you, just so there’s no misunderstanding. Next year we’re going to be getting into the prophets and the book of Revelation. If you’re expecting that I’m going to be using those books to go into detail about the schedule of the End Times, you’re going to be disappointed. I’m going to stick to my “practical theologian” standard. If I get into a subject, then I do so because it will (or should) affect your daily walk with Christ. If someone can convince me that deciding between Pre-Tribulation or Post-Tribulation or some other interpretation of Revelation can actually affect that, then I’ll do it. Other than that, I plan to keep my End-Times interpretations pretty much off the Blog.
So why am I focusing on this passage today? Because this is one of the the last explicit references to the Church—as the Bride of Christ—found in Scripture. Therefore I thought it would be a good stopping point for our brief study on the Church. What can we learn about this picture of our Destiny?
• We will—for the first time ever—be in complete sync with our Lord’s way of looking at things. Notice what they’re praising God for in vss. 2-3: the Lord's final judgment on the evil ones who’ve rebelled against his goodness and justice and mercy. Yes, we'll be applauding this. The only reason we don’t now is because in our sinful state we have more than a little sympathy for the rebels. Our Lord does as well, up to a point. But the time will come when the period of grace and mercy will end, and then it will be time to rejoice that final Justice will be dispensed.
• When we get to Glory, the greatest saint who ever lived will not be the Star of the Show. The godliest, most righteous person who ever lived will fall at their feet and joyfully proclaim “Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!" There’s room for only one Center of Attention, and you aren’t it. That title belongs to our Redeemer.
• There will be total intimacy. OK, I do remember that this is a PG site, so I’m not going to get into details here. I’m trying to choose my words carefully. But I want you to understand this: The most intimate and joyful time that any man and woman ever had on their wedding night is cold cabbage compared to what we'll experience there. What a first night of a honeymoon is supposed to be is nothing compared to what we'll have in Christ. This is arguing from the lesser to the greater. We'll know our Savior as never before.
• It’s a wedding feast presented here, but let’s keep in mind that it’s a feast. What will we be feasting on? The goodness of our God. It’s a time of celebration like no ever in time or eternity. Just when we think it can’t possibly get any better, it will.
• And finally it’s ending on an invitation. Just like the last chapter—almost the last verse—of the Bible, there’s another reason why this event is compared to a wedding party. Because God wants you there! If you’re reading this, you’ve been invited! And believe me, you don’t want to miss it. If you aren’t sure if you have a place card with your name on it, how can you be sure? If you have any questions about it, read here.
Lord Jesus, I know that I don’t deserve to be there. But I will be, by your grace and mercy. You're so good, and you're so faithful. Whom can I invite to this?
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