When Jesus Comes

Look at how Revelation 19 begins, “And after these things...”

Literally “After all these things have been accomplished...” the rapture, the tribulation and the destruction of Babylon, John now hears a collection of voices in heaven. Proclaiming: “Alleljuah!” meaning “Praise the Lord.”

Now comes the moment I have been wanting to get to ever since we started this study of Revelation: Jesus is coming!

This is the greatest moment in the history of the world!

The One who create the world, is coming to restore the world. The One who died for us, is coming to rule us! The One who loves us, is coming to avenge us! Church, Jesus is coming again, whether you are ready or not, so you better be sure you are ready!

In this passage we see what it will be like when Jesus comes. When He come, we notice first, there will be...

Rejoicing in Heaven 1-10

Four times in verses 1-10 John hears various groups proclaim “Hallelujah” to the Lamb of God. v. 1, 3, and 6. The first is unnumbered mass of believers - most likely a collection of saints from all ages, the second is that of the four beasts and 24 elders, and then again an unnumbered group whose cumulative voice is as aloud as a rushing river and that of thunder. Why are they rejoicing? For two reasons:

For what He has done on earth v. 1-6

They rejoice for the destruction of the the false religious system

Revelation 19:2 “2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.”

This is why I can sleep at night knowing that there are so many false prophets in the world, I know that one day they are going to answer to Almighty God

They may have influence here and now, but then…they will be held accountable

Read Revelation 19:3 “3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.”

The destruction of religious and political Babylon are permanent and eternal!

For this, there is rejoicing in Heaven!

They rejoice for His finished work on the cross!

Revelation 19:1 “1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:”

In heaven they rejoice over the sacrifice of the Lamb!

In heaven they rejoice over the fact that by His death, no one has to die!

That is somthing to get excited about, and this leads us to the second reason there is such rejoicing in heaven, not only for what He has done on earth, but also...

For the Bride He has called for Himself v.7-10

The Bride

Revelation 19:7–8 “7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

All of heaven rejoices over the bride of Christ

She has “made herself ready”

How?

Does this mean she has done something to earn her salvation and position?

NO!

It is not a check list of righteous deeds we have done that makes us ready for this feast!

It is embracing what Jesus Christ alone has done for us!

By trusting in Him for salvation, the Bride of Christ has made herself ready, her faith has prepared her to be the Bride of Christ!

SHe is clothed in His righteousness

We do not need to worry over the interpretation of Revelation 19:8 “8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

The Bible tells us plainly the white linen is the righteousness imparted to us by faith in Jesus Christ!

It is interesting how clothing is used in this passage…we will see more later.

Notice next...

The Reception

Known as the marriage supper of the Lamb

This wonderful feast is prepared for the saints to enjoy once the wedding is complete.

What is described here is beautifully depicted in the Jewish wedding ceremony:

In Jewish custom, the groom will make the engagement public and the he will go away for a while to earn enough money to build a house, usually an apartment attached to his father’s house, and once that is completed he will return in fanfare to claim his bride.

The groom comes for his bride and takes her to his father’s home where the ceremony takes place.

The ceremony is followed by a lengthy feast, known as the marriage supper and is a wonderful time of celebration with family and friends.

The picture is clear!

Jesus went to the cross to pay for our sin was buried and rose again

Next He ascended to His father’s side awaiting the time to be right to call His Bride home to Him.

When the rapture occurs He will take us to His home where we will face the judgment seat of Christ, having all our failures burned away for eternity and will be given a robe of righteousness, followed by a feast in our honor

The timing of the supper is right before the return of Jesus to the earth!

Listen, the there are actually two suppers in this chapter…the marriage supper, and the “supper of the great God”. Do you realize that right now you get to make the choice to “have” supper or to “be” supper. We’re just getting started. Jesus is coming and when He does there will be rejoicing in heaven, and on earth...

Righteousness Restored 11-16

The scene shifts here from heaven, back to earth. In 1-10 John repeatedly tells us what he heart, now he tells us what he saw. He saw Jesus coming to...

Conquer

White horse - a symbol of a conquering king!

He will not be on a donkey

There will not be another cross for Him!

Righteous judge making war - no one will stop Him, no one will quesiton HIm

Eyes of flaming fire - no one will be able to hide from him, He sees all and knows all

Wearing many crowns - diadem - a rulers crown

He does not win these crowns

He does not take these crowns from anyone by force

He rides out of heaven ALREADY WEARING THESE CROWNS!

Vesture dipped in blood

Vesture = clothes

They are dipped - immersed/baptized in blood

Some of said the blood is of his enemies, splashing on Him as He rides out

In truth they are already bloody when He rides out

Who’s blood is it? It is His own holy blood which He shed for the lost of the world!

They would not make avail of it for salvaiton

In the end it will be worn for their destruction

A sword coming from His mouth

The same mouth that formed the words to speak the world into existence will form the words to bring about its end

With the mouth that He breathed into Adam the breath of life, He will speak and take the lives of everyone who has stood against Him and His people!

John speaks of Jesus coming to conquer, and John also speaks of His...

Character

Faithful and true - Jesus has never failed you, and He never will.

Unknowable - that He has a name no one knows indicates a few truths regarding His character

He is above us, and somethings are not meant for us to know

This also speaks to His worthiness as the Father trusts Him with this new name and title.

Leader of the army of heaven - Revelation 19:14 “14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”

When He comes, we are coming with Him.

What is our role in the battle? To stay behind Him! That’s good, because all those who are facing Him will die.

Rule with a rod of iron

There will be no impeachment of Jesus Christ

There will be no accusation of corruption, no bribery, not a single negative thing to say about Him because He is holy and perfect.

When Jesus comes He will restore righteousness!

Oh how politicians talk about building back better or making America great…nothing will be better, nothing will be greater than when Jesus rules! Lastly, and quickly, when Jesus comes, there will be...

Retribution for Rebellion 17-21

When I ask myself, “What in the world is going on?” I try to remember the closing words from this chapter. All of the evil, all of the wicked activities of this world will one day answer to their Creator.

For 13 chapters, Revelation 6-18, we read of the Antichrist, of Satan and his demonic hosts, of their evil influence over the world and over men. We read of the tribulation and the terrible judgments of God. We read how Satan possesses the Antichrist and how he convinces the world to worship him, and how he takes over the religious, political, and economic arenas of the world. But in Revelation 19 we see the end of the antichrist, and we get a picture of what the end will be for Satan, his angels, and those who reject Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: Listen, Jesus is coming and He is coming soon! I don’t know when and if I set a date I would be a liar. The point is simply this: You only have this lifetime and precious few opportunities to make sure of your salvation.

The rapture is the next promised event in God’s timetable. When it happens, the saved of this world will be gone and the lost will be left behind. If you are left behind you will not have the chance to trust in Jesus, you must do that now before it’s too late.

Let’s bow for prayer...