Rejoice

The Commands of Victory: Rejoice and Be Glad–The Command to Celebrate the Plan of God (Revelation 12, 18, 19)

Warren Brosi, Nic Babbs, and Benjamin Small

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December 15, 2024

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Dominant Thought: We Rejoice in Christ's victory.

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Objectives:

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I want my listeners to understand the images of joy in Revelation.

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I want my listeners to experience joy in God’s plan and His presence.

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I want my listeners to live with joy no matter the circumstances of life.

FOCUSING QUESTION: How do followers of Jesus express joy?

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INTRODUCTION:

[Warren Brosi introduces the sermon and preachers.] Good morning! We have a special treat today. Two of our young men are joining me to preach the sermon today. Benjamin Small is a junior at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Nic Babbs is a freshman at Lincoln Land Community College. Both have grown up in this church and both have a heart for ministry. [show pics of Benjamin & Nic.]

We'll take a couple moments so they can introduce themselves. Then, we'll preach our sermon. I want each of you to take a minute to answer 2 questions: 1-What is Jesus teaching in this season of life? 2-What do you want for Christmas? Ben, you go first.

Ben: –Ben's answer here: This year I’ve really felt He’s been trying to teach me to be truly content in Him. With my journaling and reflection, I’ve noticed how much more joyful my life is when I let myself be, not rushed or stressed, but simply okay in His presence. As for Christmas gifts, if you got anything that’s going to help me read more often, that’d be great.

Nic: –Nic's answer here: I think God is teaching me to be more patient in life. I used to be a very impatient person but even with this internship, spending so much time with Warren has taught me to be patient because Warren is the most patient person I know. Funny enough for Christmas I asked for a revelation commentary, so that would be nice.

Warren: Jesus is teaching me that no matter what happens in life, He has overcome and gives us the power to overcome. My Christmas wish? I'm looking forward to unhurried time with my family.

Our sermon in a sentence is, “We rejoice in Christ's victory.” Each of us will take a passage in Revelation that shows us how to Rejoice in Christ's victory. The words for Rejoice show up 4 times in Revelation. Three times God's people are commanded to Rejoice. The other time, the people of earth rejoice by sending each other gifts. If you only had that context, then you'd think it was Christmas. However, listen to the whole verse in ‌Revelation 11:7-10 NIV:

[7] Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. [8] Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. [9] For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. [10] The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. (https://bible.com/bible/111/rev.11.7-10.NIV. For more study, you can read Acts 7.41.)

The people of earth rejoice when God's people are killed. The kingdom of darkness rejoices when God's people suffer. However, Revelation doesn't end in chapter 11. That is only halfway through the book. Revelation 12 opens our eyes to the rest of the story.

In Revelation 12, 18, and 19, God’s people are commanded three times to rejoice. Why do you think we need commands to rejoice? Could it be that the natural and earthly gravitational pull it toward negativity, complaining, and lament? Could it be that we simply need frequent reminders to rejoice in God’s victory.

“If joy were more general among the Lord's people, God would be more glorified among humanity” (Charles Spurgeon, reflecting on Psalm 20).

It is in Revelation 12, where we see our first picture of what it looks like for followers of Jesus to rejoice. Ben will share that first picture from Revelation 12.

1-We Rejoice like those who win a battle (Rev 12). (Benjamin)

Psalm 96.10-11

Yeah! That’s the question: What does it look like for you and me to rejoice? I know I’m happy when I pull up to the popeyes drive through, but I’m not sure that’s what Mr. Brosi was just talking about. But, lucky for you and me, the bible already answers that. I’m going to be reading from Revelation 12 verses 10 through 12.

But just before that, let me share some context about what’s happening in this chapter. John describes this epic war between this great red dragon with seven heads, also called that ancient serpent the devil, or Satan; and Michael and his angels. And they’re all fighting. And as all this chaos ensues, we see that the dragon’s army isn’t strong enough and they’re thrown down.

And right as that happens Revelation 12 picks up with,

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” https://www.bible.com/bible/111/REV.12.10-12.NIV

To put it differently, rejoice! Because he’s been defeated, the battle is won. Our King, Our Messiah who has all authority, he just threw down our only enemy and deceiver, the ancient serpent. Since the beginning, even of the beginning of this book that I hold in front of you. Talking to the serpent God says this in Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” There’s been this constant battle between us and Satan, but the victory has already been won you guys, isn’t that great. That’s why we rejoice.

We rejoice like those who’ve won a battle! Again, it says in verse 11,[] John’s saying if you believe in what He’s done for us, and you attest to that you have every reason to rejoice. He won! Sometimes it can seem like a loss, when you fall into temptation or you’re simply going through a rough time, but don’t be discouraged because it’s not true, the bible says we’re the ultimate victors because of the blood of the lamb.

Verse 12, [] This is a greater victory than any basketball or football game I’ve ever seen. And much like when you storm the court after the game to lift your team, we need to be doing a similar thing in Christ

I was watching a Bible project video on this passage, and Tim Mackie summarizes this chapter better than I could. He says, “John’s trying to show the churches that neither Rome nor any other nation or human is the real enemy. There are dark spiritual powers at work and Jesus’ followers will announce Jesus’s victory by remaining faithful and loving their enemies just like the slain Lamb.”

We rejoice like those who’ve won a battle. And I encourage you guys to think about what that really looks like for you. Mr. Brosi, please come up here and share another way followers of Jesus rejoice.

2-We Rejoice like those who win a court case (Rev 18.20) (Warren).

See Michael Gorman, Reading Revelation Responsibly, pp.150-155.

Revelation 18.20 commands the heavens (like Revelation 12.12), you people of God, apostles and prophets to rejoice. They/we are commanded to rejoice for God has judged her [Babylon-any kingdom opposes the kingdom of God] and with the judgments she imposed on you.

Revelation 18 gives two groups of people with two responses to the fall of Babylon. One group mourns and weeps because no one buys their stuff anymore. The second group rejoices at the judgment of God. They don't rejoice at her destruction. They rejoice because God's name is held up holy and true. It is not a vengeful rejoicing. God's people rejoice because their question from Revelation 6.10 has been answered. In Revelation 6.9-10, John sees the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. They call out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”

Revelation 18.20-19.2 is the answer. God avenges their blood. Those who have given their lives for Jesus will finally be avenged. Some even say it is for all of God's faithful people who die.

Our family received a Christmas card from Aunt Bev this week. She is my grandpa Wes's sister. She lives in Geneseo, IL. The card pictures three scenes. 1-The shepherds gazing at the star. 2-The magi following the star. 3-In the middle, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in the manger. Under this picture is a quotation from Isaiah 9:6 KJV,

“[6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.9.6.KJV)

It's a beautiful and powerful prophecy of the coming of Jesus. What gets left out of many Christmas cards are the verses preceding. Isaiah 9.1-5 describes the righteousness and justice of God. We read phrases like: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9.2) and “You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing plunder” (Isaiah 9.3).

Then, we read Isaiah 9:7 NIV, “[7] Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (https://bible.com/bible/111/isa.9.7.NIV)

God’s justice will be total and complete. We can rejoice like people who win a court case because our God is true and just and victorious.

We rejoice like those who win a battle, we rejoice like those who have in court. Nic, come share the third way followers of Jesus rejoice.

3-We Rejoice like those who prepare for a wedding (Rev 19.7). (Nic)

Isaiah 25.9; 61.10 62.5

We rejoice like those who prepare for a wedding, just a show of hands. Who here has prepared for a wedding? Husbands don’t raise your hand if your wife was the one who prepared most of the stuff for the wedding.

Let's look in Revelation 19 to see where a wedding shows up, we will start at verse 3 and go til verse 10.

“And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.” The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!” Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.””

https://bible.com/bible/111/rev.19.3-9.NIV

So we have these 24 Elders, these 4 creatures worshiping God who is seated on this throne so all these 24 elders and 4 living creatures represent God’s people and worship him.

Then a voice from the throne says to Praise our God as to who we fear

There was what sounded loud like rushing waters and thunder. I want to show you a video that Michael Hinnen shared with me when they went to Niagara Falls, this is what the sound was like and here is what it said [play video]

Read verse 6-8.

Now there is this wedding of the Lamb and the Bride, which represents God's church, so we are ready and prepared in fine linen, bright, and clean. So the church looks pure, innocent, we have righteous acts. Here is a picture of my mom at her wedding, dressed in fancy clothing, bright, clean, very white.

Finally it says that we are blessed if we are invited to the wedding supper. Now I have never been married and I have been to minimal weddings but I understand what is going on, which is a similar reason why I’m an intern here, you see what happens Sunday but I want to know what happens outside of Sunday. With a wedding we see what happens on the wedding day but we miss all the preparation beforehand. So I asked my mom how she prepared for her wedding and we talked about invitations, so I asked who they invited and mom said “family and close friends”.

CONCLUSION: (Nic)

Here in this passage you are blessed if you are invited to the wedding of the lamb. Who is invited to the wedding of the lamb? Family. Our church, we are all one family because of Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the cross. Jesus makes us one. Though we rejoice like winning a battle, though we rejoice like those who win a court case, though we rejoice like one preparing for a wedding. At the end of the day rejoicing doesn’t matter without Jesus. “We Rejoice in Christ's victory.” We remember Christ's victory by taking bread, breaking it, giving thanks, and taking it as a family, as we are about to do. Walker was asked to read Matthew 22:11-14 in preparation for our communion. (Hand it over to Walker)