Revelation Chapter 19 Verses 1 - 4

 Interestingly, we are introduced to a new word in this chapter that to us

and to all is not a new word! Alleluia or in the Hebrew-to-Greek

transliteration, halleluiah! This word that is so well known in the church

and through Christianity only appears four times in the New Testament

and all four times in this chapter! Once all that is wrong has been reversed.

All of the Fallen has been felled, defeated! And the chorus is “Praise the

Lord,” the meaning of this heavenly word!

 We see this in the Hebrew 26 times in the Old Testament (24 times in the

Psalms), but only once do we encounter this word in the New Testament

and it’s all right here!

 The situation on earth at this point is very difficult, but what is the

situation in heaven? It’s a chorus of rejoicing! A proclamation of the

truth and righteousness of God! At times, the circumstance can be so

tough, so much pain, that I question the goodness of God. Are you really

true? Are You really righteous? Then WHAT!? WHY!?

 I question His intentions for me! That never offends the Lord. He sees

and knows every angle and ounce of discomfort that I am in. I want to

show you how it’s actually good to discuss real emotions with the Lord,

even if they are hostile against Him in the moment. I believe He is well

pleased with that. Not only because it’s the truth, my truth for the moment

is that I am so upset…, but also simply proving again that He loves me, He

loves you, He is faithful even when I am faithless, and He is righteous.

 Even when I am falling apart, He remains… So even in my complaining,

my challenging, my sadness, anger, pain…, even in my moment of less

than goodness, He yet proves to me that He is good. In my moment of

faithlessness, His love proves His truth and His unfailing and

unconditional righteousness!

 I want to encourage you to grow in the grace and knowledge of God! (And

many times that’s in the reverse order) And you do it through a real and

raw relationship with Jesus Christ (there’s the grace). And you do it

through the study and comprehension of the Word of God (there’s the

truth). Over time, those two things will do the work of perspective

perfecting in your heart and mind!

 That when things are seemingly and perhaps even practically falling apart,

in some unseen yet uninterrupted faithful way, God is working and He is

with you, and trust grows, faith grows not only in the experiencing of the

grace of God but in the knowledge and experiencing of the truth of God.

 Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

Become a person that not only gets into the Word of God, but the Word of

God gets into you! And then, as you walk in raw reality with God, He

reveals Himself to you! And it’s then…, even as earth sometimes lies in

ruins for you, your eyes find themselves up, yoyur ear find themselves

open, and your heart finds itself established and firm on the Lord. You join

heaven in adulation. And the world wonders!

Revelation Chapter 19 Verse 5 - 9

 A voice from the throne? Who could this be? I submit to you that this is

Jesus, in HIS moment, doing what He always has done. Glorifying the

Father! Even when it’s time for His long-awaited entrance, HIS moment,

His long-awaited marriage to His bride, His heart is to glorify the Father!

And His command is heeded!

 Part of the chorus we hear at the command of Jesus, that is glorifying to

the Father, speaks of the marriage of the Lamb with a wife that has made

herself ready! This is rich in meaning and really could be a series of

studies all by itself.

 Recall in Ephesians Chapter 5. That great chapter on marriage where we

read in verses 24 - 27, “Just as the church is subject to Christ, so too let

the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 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.”

 But mysteriously and wonderfully we see later in this chapter Paul says in

verse 32, “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the

church.” The church is referred to as the “Bride of Christ,” throughout the

scriptures and that’s a beautiful picture of our covenant relationship with

Him.

 The Jewish wedding was not just an event. And the Jewish marriage of two

people was not only a thing. It was a process! It began with betrothal. For

example, Mary and Joseph were betrothed, they were not yet married, but

that betrothal carried the same weight as marriage. It was a done deal.

Once two people were betrothed, even though they had not yet come

together, they could only be separated through divorce. And it was only the

to-be groom that could do it.

 The betrothal period could last months and during that time, the groom

would be building an addition onto his father’s house for them to live. It

was only complete when the father said so. The son would work, and build

and perfect the details and then one day, unbeknownst to the son, the father

would come and tell the son he was finished and it was time to go get his

bride.

 Jesus said in Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not

even the angels in heaven, but My Father only.” There was a day the

disciples were saddened at what Jesus was saying and so He comforted

them and said to them, John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled; you

believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and

receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

 Even more about the betrothal, there would actually be a betrothal

ceremony where the groom to be would present a contract of sorts, a list of

vows and promises that he promised to his future wife and that would be

presented to the father for his review and approval.

 2 Peter 1:4, “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and

precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine

nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without

wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

 Then there was the cup of covenant which was a cup of wine shared

between the bride and groom at the time of the contract of betrothal being

accepted and then again at the marriage itself. Jesus shared the cup with

His disciples on His final night and when He did that, do you remember

what He said to them?

 Matthew 26:29, “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.”

 It was even that marriages were arranged. In fact, that culture, if any

person had any wealth, they were almost always arranged marriages so that

the wealth and name of the family would be preserved through

generations. You being chosen by the Father…, are an arranged marriage!

I mean, you still have to show up at the altar, but arranged nonetheless.

(Genesis 24:57-58, “So they said, “We will call the young woman and ask

her personally.” Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go

with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”) Ephesians 1:4, “Just as He

chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy

and without blame before Him in love.”

 Then there was the dowry. This was the price paid by the groom for the

hand of the bride from her father. And it was alimony in advance in a way.

That if he did ever divorce her, that she could live well off the rest of her

life on the value of the dowry. So, the more wealthy and desirable the bride

and her family, the higher the dowry would be! You and I were betrothed

to our Groom through a great price paid! His blood!

 1 Peter 1:18-19, “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible

things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition

from your fathers,  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb

without blemish and without spot.”

 Then, after coming for his bride, there was the second part to the process

called the Hometaking where the groom would take his bride to the place

that he had prepared and they would be there alone for 7 days. Following

the seven days in the bridal chamber, the bride and bridegroom emerged to

join their guests for a joyous marriage feast. And here we are in

Revelation 19!

 Real quick here we need to go back to verse 8! “To her it was granted to

be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright!” Notice, to her it wasn’t earned,

it wasn’t merited, it wasn’t awarded for some sort of effort, the word is

GRANTED. The word in the Greek literally means given and to be

presented with a gift! This is the gospel in short! That God so loved the

world that He GAVE His Son, that whosoever would believe in Him, say

yes to Him, would not perish but have everlasting life!

 AND, it says that her fine linen, clean and bright is the righteous acts of

the saints. Hidden Bible study nugget here! Isaiah 64:6 says, “ALL our

righteousnesses are like filthy rags!” BUT, Zechariah 3:3-4, “Now Joshua

was clothed in filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then

He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him saying, “Take

away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have

removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes!”

 So, what’s the point? SO much more to say here but simply this, its all

Jesus. Every reason why we are there and every reason why we are

honored. Every reason why we are safe. Every reason why we are

enriched. Every reason for every ministry. Every reason for everything we

do. It’s all Jesus!

Revelation Chapter 19 Verses 9

 This is the marriage supper of the Lamb. The first of two parties, two

meals we will see in this chapter. The first here, the second in verses 17 –

18 which is the supper of the great God. That’s not a picnic you want to

attend because the birds eat the flesh of the armies gathered to battle

against God.

 Here’s the thing though. Everyone has a reservation at one of the meals.

Whether it’s the marriage supper of the Lamb or the supper of the great

God…

Revelation Chapter 19 Verse 10

 Throughout the Bible, a central theme is that no created thing should be

worshipped. And every time worship is offered to an angel (except in the

case of Lucifer), that worship is not received. Now, consider Jesus who

receives the worship of angels. Hebrews 1:6, “But when He again brings

the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship

Him.’” Also, Jesus receives the worship of men. Matthew 8:2, “And

behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing,

You can make me clean.’” Matthew 14:33, “Then those who were in the

boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’”

And John 9:38, “Then he said, ‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshiped Him.”

 This last statement of this mighty angel standing there with John, the

testimony of Jesus…, His Word, His work, His revelation in your life…, is

the very spirit of prophecy. In other words, Jesus is the very atmosphere of

truth, of power, of purpose, of understanding, of revelation.

 Jesus is the very King of and Key to the reality and life God wants for you!

He is what’s going on. He is what was. He is what’s coming. And all falls

into place when we fall to our knees in our rightful place and worship

HIM!