The King Comes - Revelation 19
He holds all things together by the power of His word. • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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INTRO
INTRO
ILLUSTRATION: Guide book of ancient Rome with transparency overlay to show things I can see no other way.
REV let us see things we have not been able to see before. The missing pieces are being overlaid onto reality as we know it. And what is coming into focus is a better picture of Jesus - as He really is.
It is the promise of the first verse of the book finding greater fulfillment in Rev 19.
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.[1]
Pronunciation ( for the Hebrew word for Revelation)
ap-ok-al'-oop-sis
I.laying bare, making naked
II.a disclosure of truth, instruction
A. concerning things before unknown
B. used of events by which things or states or persons hitherto withdrawn from view are made visible to all
III.manifestation, appearance
It is what the NT promises as well.
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
The whole world will see His coming. John began by telling us in Rev 1:7
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
Many will grieve to see Him, like the Jews who rejected Him.
“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
BUT WE WHO WILL BE WITH HIM, who will worship at his throne and then mount our white horse and follow Him as He at last returns and defeats His enemies,
WE GET TO FINALLY SEE HIM AS HE IS!!!! AND REJOICE & WORSHIP!
So as we go through today’s lesson - ask yourself - what do you see?
Certainly, when we are actually there face to face it will be much clearer, but even in these previews that John shares - we can see him more than we have ever seen him before.
That is what the book is all about - It is the REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST - the “unveiling”
And in this chapter He is unveiled for us in new ways - adding more to the details than we could possibly have without this chapter.
The 4 Hallelujahs
The 4 Hallelujahs
We left off on the scene on earth when God pours out His wrath on Babylon
“And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’
“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.”
As lost men lament on earth that their empty gods are in shambles - our view switches to heaven - where a celebration is commencing.
What a contrast!
After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
Before we look at this first of the four hallelujah choruses, we want to ask who is making this joyful noise?
WIth in these verses we see several mentioned:
Bondservant of the Lord v. 2, 5
Church, Martyrs, Believers of the ages
24 Elders join in
4 living creatures
Though angels not mentioned, they are among the heavenly host.
WHO EVER IT IS: it is a thunderous chorus of praise - one ovation after another. ALL OF THE SAME MIND - GOD IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED
And they are crying out Hallelujah! --- which means PRAISE YAHWEH
First Use in NT
used often in OT (Praise the Lord)
FIRST HALLELUJAH - 6 things they praise Him for:
Revelation 19:1–2 (NASB95)
After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her.”]
The main focus of their praise is BECAUSE His judgment are true and righteous.
FOCUS: if on the earth - on those who were deceived who, on the waste laid to beautiful cities and yachts and treasures - might we question the judgment
TO SEE THE TRUTH - FOCUS on the JUDGE not the judged.
As we look upon Him and His character and and nature, our confidence grows… who else has judgment that is so trustworthy?
APPLICATION: Do you trust His judgments?
He is never vindictive. He is never corrupt. He will never judge when he is emotional.
Second Hallelujah
And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.”
The judgement of God on Babylon, the Christ-rejecting world, will never ever be forgotten. For all eternity the smoke of her desolation will rise (“up” = keeps going up) declaring
Forever and ever a reminder of the justice of God and the righteous requirement of God. ( a warning of what He will not tolerate) But also an eternal reminder that He is faithful and true - He keeps His promises.
“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
APPLICATION: What in your life is something that is ever present that serves for you either as a warning of what God will not tolerate? Is there some consequence that just smolders - even though you have done with it - but God has not taken away all the vestiges of those choices.
That does not mean he does not love - but perhaps a grace from God to remind us never to go back to that place. TO choose God instead of that little Babylon. Look with new eyes.
But maybe it is something you are overlooking. A good and lasting thing we take for granted. It is there. It is ever present but we have neglected to let it cause us to continually praise him.
Third Hallelujah
And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
“The common understanding of the Hebrew term “amen” (אָמֵן, amen) is “truly, surely, let it be so.” It carries a basic meaning of “reliable,” “trustworthy,” or “firm” and “truth” (אֱמֶת, emeth).”
This is more than just a song of agreement - like “Amen Preacher!”
This is, I think, is more a worshipful address.
Recall Rev 3:14
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
All the promises of God through the ages are finding their fulfillment in Christ, the Amen, as He stands on the brink returning as King.
Jesus is the Amen - He is doing it. He was doing it. He will do it.
We can praise Him now because there is no doubt that every promise is true, firm, reliable, and trustworthy.
And a voice from the throne answers back this Amen Hallelujah
And a voice came from the throne, saying,
“Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.”
APPLICATION Whatever your circumstances - are you able to do that? Are you doing it? What is holding you back? Are you waiting for God to prove something to you? Do you trust that He is the AMEN that He is the YES to every promise of God? Then Praise - really praise - on your face worship - all you who fear Him.
Fourth Hallehlujah
Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
There are two things for which great multitude is praising God:
Because He is sovereign and reigns - not will reign - but DOES reign.
9x in Revelation God Almighty HE IS THE ONE WHO HOLDS ALL
THINGS IN HIS HANDS - all powerful God - Who is at last bringing His reign on earth as it is in Heaven.
What a great gift Rev has been to us to pull back the veil between heaven and earth and show us that what we see is not the whole story. God is reigning on His throne, working all things according the purpose of His will according to His own perfect timetable.
The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
“It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.
also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
He is in control! Don’t let your lying eyes tell you otherwise.
THE start of this perfect reign on earth as it is in heaven is inaugurated with - the great day of the marriage of the Lamb. A marriage God arranged.
TODAY - the wedding is all about the Bride(zilla) The groom is practically an after thought. But in ancient Isreal - the Bridegoom was the central figure.
By looking at the wedding traditions of Jesus day, we get a greater understanding of our role as His chosen bride.
Father chose - agreement with the brides father
We were chosen by the father before the foundation of the world
Covenant agreement made - a marriage contract - legally binding - betrothed was as good as done - just not consummated. Dowery paid by the Groom’s Father
We have a new covenant in the blood of Jesus - the price that we could belong to Him.
Bridegroom went away to make a room in the Father’s house.
In my father’s house and many rooms....
Bride did not know when he would come back. She was to be ready.
I keep your lamps trimmed
Father declared to Son when the time was right.
the hour and day only my father knows
Bridegroom went out without any warning to collect His bride with a procession.
I will come as a theif in the night (rapture)
The presentation of the bride at the marriage would initiate the wedding supper that could last for days.
I will not eat of this bread or drink of this cup until we do so again in my father house ( matt 26:29)
From the supper the bride and groom had all rights and privileges of their relationship.
1 Thes 4:17 “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
For this marriage of the Lamb, it is observed that the Bride has made herself ready. Implying that there is something that we do. This is not a contradiction that says we can earn our way to the wedding.
WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHOSEN. And in being chosen, we are given our most important robe
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
Part of making us ready, ensuring that we are without spot or blemish in unsoiled garments seems to be that the Judgement seat of Christ has taken place - that evaluation of every believer by Christ to determine the quality of our works. Some will remain. Some will burn up. What is left will be precious and pur - “the righteous acts of the saints”
Somehow, those will be part of our wedding raiment for the marriage of the lamb. Perhaps they will be an embellishment - like the brownie badge for service in this way or that… A sash that declares our obedience to care for the saints, etc. We don’t know but we can say that our works for Him proven to be precious will be for His glory on that day - not ours.
Then John is told to write:
Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
So here is a question: Where exactly are these taking place and who exactly is participating in the marriage and/or the supper?
Here is what we can say for certain. Scripture is clear that the Church, those who trusted Christ from his resurrection to our rapture are the CHRUCH, the bride of Christ.
Who else might be included in that status? Many commentators think only those from the church age. Others think those who came out of the tribulation as martyrs. Some would say even those who lived through the Tribulation but faithful to Christ.
Some would say that because JESUS was slain before the foundation of the world, all who looked ahead to God’s provision are included as surely as those of us that look back. So OT saints.
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
Others, would say those OT saints are the guests invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb to celebrate the marriage of the Lamb to His bride the Church. As will be all the righteous who lived through the tribulation , the 144,000 Jewish evangelists and the people alive.
Here is what we can say with certainly. The church is surely the Bride. All who have been saved by faith from all ages will worship the Lamb together on earth. (Eph 5)
If the marriage is in Heaven and the marriage supper on earth, or the if they are both in heaven or both on earth, Jesus is making his home, one he prepares, with all his people.
AND EVERYONE HAS BEEN INVITED - IT IS NOT AN Exclusive event because only a handful get the invite… it is exclusive because only a few of the invited accept His invitation on His terms.(Matt 22)
ILLUSTRATION : JUDY story sharing the truth of the invitation with 80 year old cancer patient who had never heard it before - who recieved it and 3 weeks later was present with the Bridegroom in heaven.
APPLICATION: How are you preparing? As a bride makes herself beautiful for her wedding day, we have only the time allotted to us on this earth to make ourselves ready. Preparation ends when we die or the bridegroom cometh.
Your work for the Lord is not in vain. In fact, if it is for the Lord it can only be done by the Lord through you. How are you letting him have his way with your daily schedule? How are you letting him have his way with your words? your money? your temperament? your habits? your relationships? your job? your free time? your thought life?
The more he has his way now, the more you make yourself ready to be presented to him without spot or wrinkle of those lovely linen robes.
HALLELUJAH!!!! In these four outbreaks of worship, we see Jesus as He is -One worthy of worship because he gives true and righteous judgment. He avenges without corruption those who have wronged his servants and His judgments will be remember forever. He reigns now as King who is sovereign over every power and authority and He has committed Himself to us.
Principle: The just judgment and the perfect plan of God should lead to passionate worship and eager witness of Jesus Christ.
John was so eager he tried worshipping an angel - soundly rebuked - the angel who showed john those prophecy’s reminded him - all prophecy points to Jesus. - WORSHIP HIM>
Are you eager? Is worship a chore or a privilege. Do you praise him for the variety of things that the chorus in heaven did - a chorus you will surely one day be part of --- why not practice now.
Four Names:
Four Names:
After witnessing the hallelujah chorus, John saw heaven opened
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
When Jesus came the first time, He came gentle and lowly:
who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
He came into Jer riding a donkey, as a suffering servant, in meekness and humility,
He came to suffer the wrath of God for sinner and was rejected by most as Messiah.
He came to seek and save the lost, not condemn them.
He set aside His glory, and went unrecognized.
Now John sees this same God /man who went up from the Mt of Olives alone is coming back to the Mount of Olives followed by armies of righteous ones and army angels. not on a donkey - but a victorious white horse. He is coming in power and majesty. He will be recognized by all - every knee will bow and tongue will confess that he is Lord. He will establish a kingdom on earth and He will rule as King.
THIS IS HOW HE IS! WE have seen him as the infant in the manger. As the sacrifice on the cross. THEN WE WILL SEE HIM AS HE IS - majestic in power and glory.
In four names we can also see Him as He is.
HE IS faithful and True - and in that capacity he judges and makes war. He is not an aggressor but an avenger. He will expose all that is NOT faithful and True - and he himself will be the standard. WIth his flaming eyes ...
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
And crowned with many crowns - there is none able to oppose him.
Coming to the world held in the grip of false gods - HE IS THE FAITHFUL AND TRUE to a world that has only known false and adulterous.
Unknown Name - Rev 19:12
Revelation 19:12 (NASB95) and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
over 900 names of God the father, son and spirit in scripture - yet his names are not exhausted. Though He is knowable, He is also a mystery. He is a man and He is God.
He has not lost his humanity - the same way he went - the angel said, the same way he will return - (Acts 1) He went into heaven as the first resurrected man - but also God who resurrected himself.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
Who does great and unsearchable things,
Wonders without number.
“Can you discover the depths of God?
Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
Your judgments are like a great deep.
O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
How great are Your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
He has a name no one knows.
The Word of God
He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
How will Jesus execute his justice as the Faith and True - He will do it as the Word of God - He is the Logos. in the beg was the word and the word with God and the word was God.
Nothing was made that was made without His word.
He spoke the world into existence and He holds all things together by the power of His word.
How will a new heaven and new world be created… I guess he stops speaking His power to this one and it all flies apart.
The sword of God’s spirit is the word of God and with it he will defeat his enemies, v21 - not in hand to hand combat.
The words he restrained in this first coming, he will release with power at his second ( remember he spoke to the sea and it calmed, He said I am in the garden and the soldier were blown back, he spoke and lazarus came from the gave ) With just His words the greatest force ever assembled in the world, 200 million solider will simply drop dead.
It will be by His word that the world is judged individual by individual.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
THE WORD OF GOD is able to judge - every person will have their soul and spirit divided by the WORD OF GOD and he will judge their thought and intentions and in the end, even those condemned will agree that His judgements are faithful and true.
The blood on His robe will be righteously spilled.
Finally - He is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
The kings of the earth will be no more. Fighting political parties and corrupt presidents and monarchs will be done away with once and for all.
There will be no rivals for God’s authority. What Satan began by desire to be like God, ends when the true King returns.
JOY TO THE WORLD - we might sing as we follow him on our own white horses… Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king… Let every heart prepare him room. HE rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nation prove the glories of his rightousness and the wonders of His love.
This is a Rev 19 song!
Isreal did not want the Lord as King when he established them in their new land - they wanted a king like all the other nations - now at last Jesus returns to rule and to reign over a redeemed Isreal and a redeemed earth as the loving sovereign he desired to be
But also one who rules with an iron scepter. In His Kingdom, His ways will be followed. He will broach no rebellion… and the smoke of Babylon will be a reminder that he will preserve the peace and well being in his kingdom at any cost.
Never again will we face a crime wave. OR A leadership scandal. An election cycle.
HE IS KING and LORD over all kings and lords.
Principle: THE NAME OF JESUS is the final authority for all matters in heaven and on earth - past, present and future.
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Surrender to him now.
What picture of Jesus is a new one? How are you seeing him for who he really in these names? Are you trusting him as the Faithful and True. Worshipping him for fathomless nature. Thankful that by His very word Your world holds together and by His word He will bring you into the Kingdom. How are you competing with His authority in your life or for someone you love?
WE don’t ask God to line up with who we are - who we are must line up with Who He reveals Himself to be.
Four Judgements
Four Judgements
As King Jesus comes again we see four ways he deals with the remnants of evil on earth.
REMNANT because he has judged Babylon and left the entire corrupt system in ruins. But like a snake with the head cut off, it is still dangerous - snapping and venomous.
Ever since the Abomination of Desolation at the mid point of the tribulation, Satan has been at war with Isreal, with believers and we can be sure there was also infighting among the kings of his diabolical cabal. There is surely war on the earth....
But in this last day, there is also a campaign against God. Marshaling all the armies from the North to-come across the recently dried up Euphrates river, they are joined by armies from the Egypt and many other nation coming from another flank.
200 MILLION (Rev 9:16) armed forces are pillaging and murdering their way toward Jerusalem. How could they possibly loose?
In four strategic actions, its all over.
An angel comes all the birds to COME assemble for he great supper of God. (Rev 19:17-18
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God,
so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”
CONTRAST TO SUPPER OF THE BRIDE - SUPPER OF GOD
With that summons from the angel, John sees the armies.
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
IMAGINE - one bird, two birds, three birds, flocks of birds. (describe an Alfred Hitchcock movie)
Now IMAGINE - They see Jesus and they don’t throw down their weapons and repent.
2. WIth their hearts and sites set on war with God, Jesus snatches their leader from their midst.
And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
Thrown ALIVE
First Occupants
Never to be released again
Reminded of their crime 0 his judgement are faith and true.
3. Now for the rest of the bloodthirsty force.
And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
They refused the invitation to the supper of the lamb so they became the supper of the great God.
4. Preview SATAN IS CONFINED
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
Next week we can talk about WHY he was confined and not destroyed, but this week we want to acknowledge the ease and the swiftness with which Jesus conquers his enemies.
he did not wait all this time because he was trying to build a big enough force.
For all the angels and believer who came with him, we were nothing but spectators.
He did not need greater numbers, nor greater strength. There was zero resistance to his power and authority.
So why did he wait so long. The disciples thought his return would be in their lifetime.?
Even the timing when he appears helps us see him as He is. He is God who desires that we experience the fulness of a world that rejects him so that His goodness will have its contrast in the only way we can understand it.
FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IF WE JUST HAD ENOUGH TIME HUMAN NATURE WOULD PREVAIL: His delay has proved: Things don’t get better and better. They get worse and worse. We don’t evolve. we devolve. WE don’t need his grace less, We need it more.
On the other hand, His goodness does not diminish in the face of our rebellion. His sacrifice is greater than our greatest sin.
Consider the true understanding of His light as He comes into a world that has descended into utter darkness. How much more we see Him as the Light he is when we see ourselves and our world as the darkness we are.
Who would argue with him in that day the rightness as He determines who goes into the kingdom (of light) and who goes into the second death (in darkness).
Our own darkness has show us that He alone is qualified to judge.
PRINCIPLE: Jesus alone determines who will be recieved into his kingdom and who will be judged by his word.
Application: How do we respond to this great apocalypses of Jesus - this great unveiling?
Peter tells us: Peter who saw Jesus glory unveiled at the Mt of Transfiguration - Peter who fell into darkness by rejecting Jesus and then saw His mercy unveiled when Jesus so graciously forgave and restored him. Here is how we respond knowing that the unveiling is coming:
📷 1Pe 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing G602 of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 1:13
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation G602 of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 4:13
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, G602 ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Come Lord Jesus!