Revelation 19

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Introduction

Contrasts:

Tale of two cities

two women

two feasts

 Of the 260 chapters in the entire New Testament, there are 318 references to the Second Coming, or one out of 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy on the First Coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ’s Second Coming.

Aim

Open Bible’s/Apps

DIVISION 1: Revelation 19:1-10

After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:

vs 1 begins with the words: “after this” which connects us to the previous chapters- we just finished reading about Babylons destruction on earth..

and now- here- in vs’s 1-10 we are taken to heaven to hear heaven respond to the destruction of Babylon.

here John hears what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven..

There is nothing quiet about their worship.

This is a full out LOUD praise party.

4 times here we see the word Hallelujah…

the only time this word appears in the new testament is right here in Revelation 19…it is translated: “praise the Lord” or “praise Yahweh”

so lets look at each of the 4 Hallelujah’s shouted from heaven…

1 Hallelujah

vs 1:

“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2     for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute     who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

here 6 reasons are given to praise the Lord:

His glory

His power

His true and just judgements

His judgement of the prostitute

and His avenging of the blood of His servants.

2 Hallelujah

3 And again they shouted:

“Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”

Here the people are celebrating the destruction of Babylon as her smoke rises.

This is a celebration of God’s justice…

This is not some morbid celebration of death.

Babylon was not known for it’s kindness…it was known for it’s wickedness…remember that she oppressed the people of God- getting drunk on their blood…

When Nazi Germany fell I can assure you that the allies celebrated loudly.

The blood of millions had wrongly been spilled…

and when the war was finally over- there was a reason to celebrate as the cruel torment and bloodshed was stopped.

3 Hallelujah

as we move into our 3rd Hallelujah the great multitude is joined by 24 elders and 4 living creations…and together with the multitude they fell down and worshiped God..

4 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!”

and then…a voice from the throne speaks- we don’t know who is speaking…but what we do know is that the voice praise’s God…

5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,     all you his servants, you who fear him,     both great and small!”

**Cooperate worship….

Each week when you gather with your church body on Sunday mornings- you are experiencing a little bit of heaven on earth.

God calls us to meet together- to worship together.

If you are not a part of a church body- find one! There are many wonderful churches in the city of Cincinnati. If you are feeling lost you can check out Kenwood Baptist…I’m sure they would love to welcome you.

Church on TV is not church…

be a part of the local church..worship with God’s people through singing..praying..and hearing the word of God taught…worship as you serve those in your church and community together…

3 Hallelujah OR Wedding Feast

6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

The sound here John describes is DEAFENING…my friends used to make fun of me at church years ago because I would always hold my ears during the music. I’m great big fun at a concert but only if I have my ear plugs in…

“Hallelujah!     For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 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. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean,     was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Think about the clothing of the prostitute in chp. 17…

notice that she did not get the fine linen on her own…it was GIVEN to her…

made herself ready:

how do you make yourself ready? (Christ-centered commentary)

remain faithful to Christ in a fallen and evil world

endure hardship in the midst of suffering

trust God in the face of martyrdom

obey God to take the gospel to all tribes, languages, peoples and nations

9 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.”

…dinner Isaiah 25..

Peasants only ate meat a couple of times a year…

salvation= best wedding feast ever.

the second group is invited to be the supper.

2 invitations..

everyone is coming…but are you the meal or the bride?

10 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.”

John rebuked. worshipping wrong person.

True prophecy always points to Jesus.

We talked about this all the way back at the beginning of the year.

which means that the worship scene is set…Jesus Christ is the glorified king of kings and lord of lords.

PRINCIPLE: God alone is worthy of worship.

Jesus is risen and is returning to claim His bride

APPLICATION:

The Triumphal Entry: DIVISION 2: Revelation 19:11-21

Final Battle Scene…

Greek word for war…used 3x…THE 16:14, 19:9 and 20:8- this is THE FINAL WAR..THE FINAL BATTLE.

what changed….between chp’s 16, and 17, and 18….what changed in 19 that has everyone shouting hallelujah.

CHRIST HAS COME.

White Horse- pure

God’s is patient but eventually God will say time is up.

It is the judgement of every evil and absolutely just.

Faithful and true.- what kind of characteristics do you want in a judge? fairness and justice…true- judges according to reality.

Role: judgement and justice (11b);

vs 15- out of mouth is sharp sword…OT images…

Isaiah 11:4 NIV

4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

A name no one knows- in ancient world if you knew their secret name you had mastery over them…no one has mastery over them…

robe dipped in blood- 2 possibilities:

his blood- sacrifice

Word of God- John 1:14

John 1:14 NIV

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

only way we know God is through the revelation through the son…Jesus is God’s self revelation..manifestation of God himself.

who makes up the army?

could be angelic?

could be saints that had died?

Does Jesus need an army? No..he just speaks and it’s done..

its the picture being portrayed

God doesn’t need anything…it indicates his POWER AND GLORY AND MIGHT…

He is Omnipotent.

King of Kings..and Lord of Lords—> shows his deity..

vs 17- scary scene…hundreds of crows circling….

the second group is invited to be the supper.

2 invitations..

everyone is coming…but are you the meal or the bride?

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords.

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”

God/Jesus merely speaks.

Beast, Anti-Christ- and Satan are

19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

PRINCIPLE: God will gather his people to himself.

Jesus is risen to reign unrivaled.

Jesus is King and Lord without rival in heaven or on earth.

APPLICATION:

Even so come…will the church be ready? are you ready?

He reigns then and he reigns now..does he have control over your life?

Conclusion

in 1741, George Friederich Handel wrote the Hallelujah Chorus..traditionally when it is sung- people stand..

however in heaven- the fall down and worship.

So I invite you to worship this morning..in whatever posture you prefer..you may stand..you may sit..you may fall on your knees…

but remember..the multitude in heaven was loud…

but together- let’s worship and sing- the Hallelujah chorus.

-Hallelujah Chorus- SONG

Let’s pray