Read
1After this, I heard what sounded like a lot of voices in heaven, and they were shouting,
“Praise the Lord!
To our God belongs
the glorious power to save,
2 because his judgments
are honest and fair.
That filthy prostitute
ruined the earth
with shameful deeds.
But God has judged her
and made her pay
the price for murdering
his servants.”
3 Then the crowd shouted,
“Praise the Lord!
Smoke will never stop rising
from her burning body.”
4After this, the 24 elders and the four living creatures all knelt before the throne of God and worshiped him. They said, “Amen! Praise the Lord!”
The Marriage Supper
5 From the throne a voice said,
“If you worship
and fear our God,
give praise to him,
no matter who you are.”
6 Then I heard what seemed to be a large crowd that sounded like a roaring flood and loud thunder all mixed together. They were saying,
“Praise the Lord!
Our Lord God All-Powerful
now rules as king.
7So we will be glad and happy
and give him praise.
The wedding day of the Lamb
is here,
and his bride is ready.
8She will be given
a wedding dress
made of pure
and shining linen.
This linen stands for
the good things
God's people have done.”
9 Then the angel told me, “Put this in writing. God will bless everyone who is invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” The angel also said, “These things God has said are true.”
10I knelt at the feet of the angel and began to worship him. But the angel said, “Don't do that! I am a servant, just like you and everyone else who tells about Jesus. Don't worship anyone but God. Everyone who tells about Jesus does it by the power of the Spirit.”
Reflect
Following his triumph over the Ottoman invaders, the Polish King John III was given an audience before Pope Innocent XI who congratulated him on the victory. King John’s reply was, “I came, I saw, God conquered.” This is what happens in Chapter 19. The Church comes from heaven with Christ, sees his earthly enemies, then watches as he conquers them. It’s the climax of the Apocalypse, the grand finale. Three important events are recorded in this great chapter. The first two events seem to overlap.
The first event is a standing ovation (vv 1-8). There’s phenomenal rejoicing in heaven because the great prostitute, Babylon, has received her just deserts. Gone are the adulterous and idolatrous institutions that distorted God’s truth with demonic lies and practices. The Church joins together in a resounding and deafening applause because justice has finally been served. A fourfold chorus of praise (vv 1, 3, 4, 6) emphasises the magnitude of the tribute offered up to God.
The second event is the marriage supper of the Lamb (vv 5-10). It’s the final consummation of the spiritual union between Christ (the bridegroom) and the Church (the bride). This is what the Church has been waiting for. It’s an ecstatic coming together, and God’s people are super-energized, “sounding like a roaring flood and loud thunder all mixed together” (v 6). [Note: A distinction should be made between verses 7 and 9. Verse 7 refers to the wedding and verse 9 concerns the banquet that follows. The precise timing of the wedding and the banquet is not known, other than that they come at the end of the Tribulation].
Not to be missed in the story of what will come, is the promise of happiness. Everyone who attends the marriage and banquet receives God’s blessing (v 9).
Respond
Lord, thank you that the Church is the bride of Christ at this time and that our marriage lies in the future. As we look forward to the great wedding and banquet, help us to live with the tension of the now and the not yet. Amen.
Lawson Murray
Lawson is the President of Scripture Union Canada and the Managing Editor of theStory™. Lawson takes every opportunity to enthusiastically invite people of all ages to connect with Jesus and His Story. He says, “We have been given the greatest story ever - God's Story! Should we not, with all our might and energy immerse ourselves in it? I believe we should. For without the Story we really have nothing to offer the millions who hunger and thirst for something more. But, with God’s Story we have what everyone needs!” Publications: Bible Engagement Blog; Children’s Ministry Basics Blog, Bible Engagement Basics; Bible Beginners