A New Bride

I’d like to begin today doing something a little different. Would you stand with me and recite the Lord’s Prayer?

Matthew 6:9-13
9 “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.

Verse 10 is an amazing verse with massive consequences. It says, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

When we pray that, we are saying that:
•In heaven, there is no more pain
•In heaven, there is no more sorrow
•In heaven, there is no more betrayal
•In heaven, there are no more lies
•In heaven, there is no more brokenness
•In heaven, there is no more injustice

And we are asking God to bring that to this earth, as it is in heaven.

Last week, we talked about Babylon, the Great Prostitute of the book of Revelation. We learned that Babylon is the world’s system that Satan uses, and in particular, in the tribulation, Babylon is used by the Beast and the False Prophet to lead people to bondage, disillusionment, and captivity. The Antichrist uses the Great Prostitute to control.

And we learned that ultimately, once the Antichrist and the False Prophet have all the people under their control, all authority is given to the Antichrist and the great world system, Babylon is destroyed.

We see these words in Revelation 17.

Revelation 17:17-18
“…17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
So, the end of chapter 17 and in chapter 18, we see that God has allowed Babylon, the Great Prostitute, to fall and to be judged.

As you open chapter 19, notice what happens in heaven.

Revelation 19:1-5
1 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2     for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
    who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
3 Once more they cried out,
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And from the throne came a voice saying,
“Praise our God,
    all you his servants,
you who fear him,
    small and great.”

Notice the celebration in heaven. A multitude in heaven is rejoicing because of the right judgments of God.

My friends, this is where the story gets good. And that’s what I want you to see today as we are in the home stretch of this study. What we are about to study over the next few weeks is God’s answer to the prayer:

“May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

So, here’s my question: What has to happen for his kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?

At this point in the story, there are two things.

1.The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
2.The Second Coming of Christ.

Let’s look at these two big upcoming moments in Revelation 19.

I.The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Let’s read Revelation 19:6-10.

Revelation 19:6-10
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
    the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
    and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
    and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
    with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

What is this moment?
•In Biblical Times marriage consisted of 3 parts:
i.Engagement – the Groom goes to the bride’s house
ii.Wedding – The Groom and guests go to the bride’s house
iii.Feast – The guests and newly married couple go to the Groom’s house for a feast

•In the engagement, the groom would come with the dowry – a price he would bring to the father of the bride.
•The covenant agreement would take place where they would share a meal.
•They would also drink the cup of the covenant – each would drink from the cup…from this special cup that had been set aside for this important occasion.
•The would be legally married at this point
oBride would wear a veil when she went out indicating that she was in a covenant relationship
oGroom would say to her, “I am going away to prepare a place for you and I will come again to receive you unto myself, that where I am, you may be also.”
oHe would then go and build upon his father’s house the wedding chamber…the wing of the house where they would live.
oAnd he didn’t get to decide when it was ready and complete.  No, he had to get his father’s permission. His father would inspect what he had built. And his father would coach him up a bit – “Son, you need to fix this here…this isn’t good enough over here.” You aren’t finished.
oWhen his father said he was done, he would say, “Now, go and get your bride.”

This led to the second part of the wedding – the actual Wedding – The Groom and guests go to the bride’s house. And they would come often as a surprise.

•The bride doesn’t know the day or the hour. So, she was to always be ready. She was to be ready at night, if he came with his friend blowing a horn and raising a ruckous on the way.
•She was to have her lamp lit with enough oil for the journey.
•She was to be ready and prepared…at a moment’s notice…she and her wedding party.
•The groom and his boys would come and they would gather the bride and her wedding party and her parents would follow along…and it was a very romantic and mysterious journey. And they would take the bride to the home where they would consummate the marriage and the wedding feast would begin.

That’s the third part… The Feast – The guests and newly married couple go to the Groom’s house for a feast.

•And its here that they celebrate.
•It’s here where they sing and dance and rejoice over the coming together of the bride and the groom.

ACCORDING TO TWO SCHOLARS, THOMAS AND MACCHIA…
“Johannine hearers would not doubt be aware of marriage/wedding imager being used in the OT on various occasions to describe the relationship between God and his bride, Israel (Hos. 2:7; Isa.1:21; Jer. 2:2).” Of course, Jesus picked up on this imagery as related to the new covenant as well. “Jesus explained that his disciples were not fasting because he, the Bridegroom, was with them (Matthew 9:14, 15). He told parables about the kingdom of Heaven being like a wedding feast (Matthew 22:1–14) and about being ready for his coming as a bridegroom (Matthew 25:1–13).”

WIERSBE SAYS…
“The bride is now the wife (v. 7), and the marriage supper is now to be served. It is interesting that this is the marriage supper of the Lamb, and not of “the King” or “the Lord.” The one title that Christ wants emphasized for all eternity is “the Lamb,” for it speaks of His love for the church and the price He paid to purchase it.”

Now, one of the most exciting moments when I do a wedding is the moment when the mother of the bride stands, the congregation stands, and then the door in the back of the room opens and the bride and her father appear.

•that’s the moment when the grooms knees get weak
•it’s the moment when you hear a chorus of subtle sounds from the guests – “wow”, “umm,” and “come on!”
•And it’s the moment when the bride confidently strides down the aisle to her groom in all of her beauty.
•Her dress is in full view. It’s on display for all to see. It’s stunning on her!

Notice with me verse 8 for a moment.

Revelation 19:8
it was granted her to clothe herself
    with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

This is incredible to think about. Look at this again…this second part. It says, “for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”

Did you know that you and I get to pick out our wedding attire?

G.K. BEALE SAYS IT THIS WAY:
An important point should be made about the bride’s clothes. First, they are “fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints” (Revelation 19:8). But second, it is also noted that his bride (literally “woman”) has prepared herself. The hearers are likely to understand these words within the context of ancient Jewish weddings, where after the betrothal, at which point the couple is legally married, the bride continues to live in the house of her father, where she prepares herself as she awaits her husband’s arrival, at a date in the future, to take her to his house. Clearly, the bride of the Lamb is preparing herself for this extraordinary event, owing in part to the occurrence of ‘herself’ as the object of preparedness…Put differently, the white linen represents “two inextricably related realities: (1) human faithfulness and good works (as necessary evidence of right standing with God) and (2) vindication or acquittal accomplished by God’s judgments against the enemy on behalf of his people.”

The idea here is because we have been acquitted by Jesus…we serve him during our betrothal as we wait for his appearing.

The righteous deeds of the saints are our good works that flow out of a life that has been redeemed.

WIERSBE CONTINUES AND SAYS…
“Of course, the church has to “make herself ready” for this supper. This cleansing was done at the judgment seat of Christ, when all the “spots and wrinkles” were taken away (Eph. 5:25–27). The bride goes to heaven by God’s grace, and not by good works. But once in heaven, believers will be judged at Christ’s judgment seat for their faithfulness in life and in service. Verse 8 states that the wife will wear “the righteousness of the saints”; that is, “the righteous deeds of the saints.” Christ will reward us according to our faithfulness, and the rewards we receive will make up the “wedding gown.” Dr. Lehman Strauss writes, “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 of our own making?” What a solemn thought! ”

What are you doing to serve the Lord while you wait for his return? In what ways do you minister his love and grace for others?

My friend, if you want to grow in your confidence, in your intimacy, in your walk with Jesus, serve other people the love of Jesus.

•Find ways to get involved here.
•Find ways to learn from another who is serving.
•Bring people to church.
•Share the gospel with others – adorn yourself with the rewards of heaven on that day when we sit at the marriage feast of the Lamb.

And more than that, bring others with you.

Look at verse 9.

Revelation 17:9
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

The word blessed means happy…joyful…deeply contented!

But it’s hard to make people want to attend this wedding feast.

Jesus even told a story about it.

Luke 14:15-24
15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

Let’s be like the servant, compelling people to the great banquet. Let’s go to the highways and byways. Let’s bring any and all who will to come. And let’s also recognize that the time is short. The groom will come for the bride at any time.

The only other thing that remains for the kingdom to fully come on earth as it is in heaven is the Second Coming of Christ.

II.The Second Coming of Christ

Now, the scene of the second coming is the Plain of Megiddo, and the moment that is being described is the Battle of Armageddon.

Recall what has happened on earth.

•The church has been raptured
•The 7-year tribulation has begun
•The Antichrist has brokered a peace deal for 7 years with the nations and Israel.
•The deal is so good that Israel gets to rebuild her temple and offer sacrifices
•The first 3.5 years we see the seal judgments and the trumpet judgements.
•At the half way point of the 7 years, the Antichrist, the one who emerged from Europe, betrays Israel and sets himself up as God.
•The two witnesses emerge and preach against Antichrist.
•The bowl judgments begin.
•The false prophet emerges.
•All people must take the mark of the beast on their head or on their hand to buy or sell.
•And all must worship the image of the beast as he sets himself up as God.

It’s an awful scene on earth, as Israel recognizes her mistake. All nations rise up against the Jews, as the end of the 7 year peace deal is over. They begin to lay siege to the nation of Israel, and it’s here that Israel begins to cry out for Messiah to come. And here is what we see.
Slide: Zechariah 14:1-6a

Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. 5 And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

The prophet Zechariah said that the Lord will come and all the holy ones with him.
This is the Parousia, the second coming of Christ…as his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives.

John shares it with us like this in Revelation 19:11-18.

Revelation 19:11-21
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Danny Akin reminds us of Christ’s return will look like, as promised both in the Old and New Testaments:

Slide: The Return of Christ will be:
•It will be personal (Zech 14:3–5; Matt 24:30; Acts 1:9–11)
•It will be historical (Zech 14:3–5; Matt 24:30; Acts 1:9–11)
•It will be visible (Matt 24:30; Acts 1:9–11)
•It will be physical (Matt 24:30; Acts 1:9–11)
•It will be victorious (Zech 14:3–5; Rev 19:11–21)
•It will be cosmic in its benefits (Rom 8:18–25)

How should we understand Jesus’ return upon his white horse?

RICHARD BAUCKHAM EXPLAINS:
“Truth is seen first in heaven and then when it comes from heaven to earth. At 19:11, heaven opens and truth himself, the Word of God (19:13), rides to earth. This is the point at which the perspective of heaven prevails on earth, finally dispelling all the lies of the beast. It must finally be evident to all who has the true divine sovereignty, and so although Christ in this passage is given several names, the name which is visible for all to see, blazoned on the side of his robe is: ‘Kings of kings and lord of lords’ (19:16).

The military imagery is controlled by judiciary imagery.

The sword with which he slays is the sword that comes from his mouth (19:15, 21): his word of true judgment (cf. 1:16; 2:12, 16).

His eyes of flame (19:12) are those of the divine judge who sees infallibly into hearts and minds (1:14; 2:18, 23).”

This return, Jesus’ second coming, is certainly different in comparison to his first coming.

Notice Akin’s Chart:

The Two Comings of Christ
His First Coming - His Second Coming
He rode a donkey - He will ride a white horse
He came as the suffering servant - He will come as King and Lord
He came in humility and meekness - He will come in majesty and power
He came to suffer the wrath of God for sinners - He will come to establish the kingdom of God for His saints
He was rejected by many as the Messiah - He will be recognized by all as Lord
He came to seek and save the lost - He will come to judge and rule as King.
He came as God incognito - He will come as God in all His splendor.

And one of the things that I love the most is how uneventful this is. Notice this last thought here.

Verse 20 says…

Revelation 19:20-21
20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

It's a pretty boring ending to the war scene.

•Beast – captured
•False Prophet – captured
•Both thrown in the lake of fire…
•Others, killed by the word coming out of his mouth…and then the birds feast!

This sets the table for the millennial reign of Christ, where Jesus along with us who love and follow him, establish his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

But, we will study that next week.

What is it you need to do?

How should you respond to Christ?

•You’ve been invited – will you be at the great wedding feast?
•If you will be there, how will you be prepared? Will you have a life full of good works that declare your love for Jesus?
oHow will you serve him?