Two Suppers and the Return of Christ

Text: Revelation 19 (Translation: KJV)

Primary Audience: Believers/Unbelievers

CIT: John saw a brief picture of two suppers, prompting his audience to ask which meal they would attend?

Proposition: Rev.19 gives a brief picture of two suppers, which meal will you attend?

Purpose: To push the congregation to be sure of their standing with Christ.

Title: Two Suppers and the Return of Christ

Outline

1) 19:1-5 “Joy That Comes Before a Feast”

2) 19:6-10 “A Supper You Wat to Attend”

3) 19:11-16 “The Return of the Conquering King”

4) 19:17-21 “A Supper You Want to Miss”

Read Revelation 19

Prayer

Introduction

I like to eat; sometimes I really think I like to eat way too much, and I’m probably going to eat too much today since it’s Father’s Day! I guess I’m just one of those people that if there’s food around and it’s something I like, it’s hard for me to turn it down. At family get togethers I’m what some people call a grazer. For those of you who don’t know what a grazer is, that’s the person that kind of hovers near the food table and slowly, but continuously, snacks on whatever’s there. I say all that to tell you that it’s a very rare thing for me to miss a meal. So, when I do miss one, you can rest assured that there’s either something really important going on, or I’m not feeling too well at the time. Speaking of meals, I want to talk to you this morning about two meals that are both set to happen at some point in the future. The first meal we’re going to talk about is one that you really want to make sure you’re a part of. The second one, one the other hand, is one that you want to make sure you miss. Both of these meals are going to happen when Jesus returns. That said, I would like to approach our text this morning with both a though and a question in mind, that being this, Rev.19 gives a brief picture of two suppers, which meal will you attend? Let’s look at vv.1-5.

19:1-5 “Joy That Comes Before a Feast”

The first five verses of chapter 19 give a brief description of the joy that comes before a feast.

Illustration: I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, one of the most exciting times, I ever remember was that period of time leading up to, and right before the big feast that was getting ready to happen at a family get together. ---- We used to go to my uncle’s house outside of Spartanburg every year for a big fourth of July celebration. My parents and I would always arrive a day or two early so that I could spend some time playing with my cousins before everyone else got there. When we would arrive it always seemed like, as a kid, that the celebration was a long way off, even though it was really only two days. But when the morning of July fourth got there, I distinctly remember how I felt. It was almost as if there was a kind of electricity in the air, a kind of joy because you knew that all the festivities were on the verge of starting. When I read these first five verses of Rev. 19, I get the feeling that something like that is what’s going on here.

Notice how John begins v.1, “1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, …” Here’s the amazing thing about John saying that. Do you know who that vast multitude he’s talking about is? ---- That’s all the followers of Jesus, as they’ve been raptured to meet the Savior in heaven who is on his way to set things right as he returns to earth. Here’s something I find interesting about these verses. If you take the time to read a few of the previous chapters in Revelation one of the big themes you can’t get away from is the fact that a day is coming when God’s people will finally be totally vindicated. Friends, these verses here, vv.1-5, give you the briefest glimpse into the excitement and joy of that directly precedes that coming experience. ---- How can I say that? ---- Look, if you will, at vv.1, 3, and 4 and notice that each of these verses, when taken together, form a three-fold Hallelujah that’s connected with v.2 where the reason for the coming celebration is given. The text says that this celebration happens because “2 … he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication …” Friends, that’s why this will happen. Verse 2 says that God has “2 … hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.”, a time is coming when things will be set right! Now, here’s something amazing, there’s so much excitement pictured here in vv.1-5 that it tells us in v.4 that “4 … And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God …” It’s as if the excitement about what’s getting ready to happen is so great that all of heaven can’t stand it anymore and they too break out in celebration. But before we get too excited, v.5 gives us a quick reminder coming and it comes from the throne in heaven, “5 … Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.” Church, as exciting and celebratory as vv.1-5 are, we need to always bear in mind and remember where our final redemption comes from and what it cost. It cost the Father his Son, but the Son was willing to do what the Father asked out of love for people just like me and you, and the question you need to be asking yourself right now is this, have I accepted that love gift of salvation in my life? If you haven’t, there’s no better time that the present to do it. Why(?), because your acceptance of the free gift of salvation is what secures your invitation to marriage supper of the Lamb that’s announced in vv.6-10.

19:6-10 “A Supper You Don’t Want to Miss”

If you remember, just a few minutes ago I told you that I don’t miss many meals? Well, this meal that’s announced in vv.6-10 is a supper you don’t want to miss, it’s the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Now, it’s really important for you to understand what’s going on in this text, and so, in order to do that I want you to think for just a minute. Do you remember what Jesus did on the evening before he went to pray at the Garden of Gethsemane, not too long before the soldiers came and took him away to what would ultimately be his crucifixion? ---- What event seemed to set in motion the events that led up to the cross? It’s described in Matthew 26; Mark 14; and Luke 22. ---- It was Jesus celebrating the last Passover with his disciples. In both the accounts of Matthew and Luke concerning this event, they record an interesting statement that Jesus made to his disciples. Luke records it like this, “14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come” (Luke 22:14–18). Did you catch what Jesus said in those verses? A day is coming when he’s going to eat this meal again with his disciples, and us too. Now, I think most of us realize that this is what we celebrate today as the Lord’s Supper, and we celebrate it looking back on what Jesus has done on our behalf, but do you realize that when come before the Lord’s table we’re also looking forward? ---- We’re looking forward to the day when we’ll all celebrate this meal with Jesus at his return. In Rev. 19:6-10 what you’re seeing, in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, is the final fulfillment of what Jesus said that night when he instituted the Lord’s Supper. ---- Now, the question some of you might be asking yourself is this, “If this is a supper I don’t want to miss, how do I get to be invited to it?” ---- Well, in order to answer that question, you need to understand just who the bride is. The NT consistently gives that honor to the church, those believing Jews and Gentiles who have placed their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Once you wrap your mind around that, the answer to the question of just how you get an invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is actually pretty straight forward. You have to place your faith in Jesus; you have to believe he is who he says he is, your allegiance must be to him and him alone. ---- Another question that needs to be answered is this, “What makes the bride (the church) worthy of such an honor?” The answer to that question is found in v.8 when you’re told how the bride prepared herself. Verse 8 says, “8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white …” Church, v.8 gives you the first glimpse of the bride getting dressed up in the most beautiful wedding dress you could ever imagine, and that’s us, but it’s not what you might think, and here’s what I mean. Look at the last part of v.8, “8 … for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation is a book that’s jam packed with symbolism and this is another example of that. Church, the only reason we’re permitted to wear this fine linen, this beautiful wedding dress, is because Jesus purchased it for us in his blood. I believe v.8 is a reference back to, and the culmination of what Paul said in Eph. 2:10, “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Appeal: Let me ask you, does that describe you? No, works don’t merit salvation, but what they do is show that you are who you say you are, and they also serve to, I believe, give you a footing for the assurance you need to persevere in your salvation. And that perseverance, friend, will ultimately lead to your having a part in this supper that mentioned in vv.6-10, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Let’s turn now to vv.11-16

19:11-16 “The Return of the Conquering King”

-There are a few descriptions of events in Scripture that are at one and the same time both comforting as well as terrifying. Verses 11-16 is the description of one such even, the return of the conquering king.

Illustration: I found it interesting, a few years back, when I asked a co-worker exactly what he thought about Jesus. His response was enlightening. In a nutshell this was his response, “Jesus, he’s that dude who was born in Bethlehem and got executed. When I think about him, I think about all those manger scenes you see at Christmas. My girlfriend and I drove by one last year where they had a real baby. Isn’t that just crazy! Who would have a little baby out in the cold like that!”

I would submit to you that that’s how most people think about Jesus, when and if they even think about him at all. He’s always the little innocent baby in a manger, but here’s the thing, while that certainly true of the way Jesus began his earthly life, vv.11-16 give a completely different picture of Jesus, that of a conquering king. These verses describe Jesus as coming back on a “white horse” and “making war” (v.11). Verse 12 and 13 say, “12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Now, I don’t know about you, but that description given there is anything but that of an innocent little baby! But here’s what’s more, look at what vv.14 and 15 say, “14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule (shepherd) them with a rod of iron …” If you’re listening to me today, and you’re a follower of Jesus, I want you to know that you’re a part of that mighty army coming from heaven, and you will assist your Savior, Jesus, in ruling the nations. Do you remember singing the song as a child, I’m in the Lord’s Army? Well, these verses are the fruition and culmination of that song you sung so many years ago. Oh, and by the way, all of those people you long to see, those parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, those children you lost, that baby you miscarried, those friends you now only wish you could talk to, they’re all in this army too! But the last part of v.15 should give us all pause when we read it, “15 … and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” ---- If you’ve never given your life to Christ, the last part of v.15 is for you, and it’s expanded upon in vv.17-21. Let’s finish up by taking a look at those verses.

19:17-21 “A Supper You Want to Miss”

-Hollywood can do an awesome job nowadays with all of its special effects and computer-generated imagery, especially when it comes to making a battle scene look as gruesome as possible, but I don’t think even Hollywood at its best can give us a picture of what vv.17-21 will actually look like. These verses give a very brief glimpse into a supper you want to miss; it’s a supper that began way back in Revelation 16 and it’s what’s commonly called the Battle of Armageddon.

John begins in v.17 by telling us that he saw an angel who was calling for all the birds to come and gather for the Great Supper of God so that they could “18 … eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.” Friend, if you’re listening to me today and you’re not a follower of Jesus, then you’re somewhere in that mix, there’s no way around it, the language is too comprehensive. Then, in vv.19, John says, “19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.” But notice what happens next in v.20, “20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” When you read those verses, what do you notice? ---- The thing that stand out to me the most is the fact that although this might be called a battle there is really no battle to speak of. Why(?), well, it’s because when you think about it, the battle has already been won. It was won nearly two-thousand years ago when Jesus said these words, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30), and then three days later walked out of the tomb alive.

Appeal / Invitation: That, my friend, is the gospel, that’s the message that saves, and today, right now, the light has pierced the darkness, and the invitation stands in order that you might make sure you miss the great supper of God that described in Rev. 19:17-21. Will you give your life to Christ?

Closing Prayer