Sunday Morning Service (Revelation 20)

Revelation 20

“The Millenium And The Great White Throne” •  11.29.20  •  Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- Chapter 19 concluded with a final showdown between the Antichrist and the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a genuine non-event, as the Lord destroyed his army without any effort.

- The short and blood reign of the beast is over and the King of King's is about to begin!

- As we cross into chapter 20, we are witnessing the establishment of Christ's Kingdom on Earth. We have a ways to go, so we'll just jump right into this. Verse 1.

Text

• Revelation 20:1-3 : "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while." John reports seeing an angel, one that is unnamed and of a general sort. He is equipped with the key to the bottomless pit and a large chain.

- This word refers to the kind of restraint that John would be very familiar with. The links of the large chain would end with a "manacle," which would be used to restrain the hands or feet.

- A Roman soldier would use a single chain for each limb and cross them over one another. Whether or not this is a literal "chain," the effect is conclusive.

- This ordinary angel easily overpowers the Devil and casts him, I'd like to believe "headlong," into the Abyss. As you can see, the Devil is far from being the equal or opposite of God.

- At the Lord's orders, the Devil has been seized and will be unable to ply his trade for a thousand years or, as the Latin translates it, a Millenium. Look at these four names for our enemy.

- The word "drakon" carries the meaning of causing one to look. He's a fascinating and dangerous animal who is cunning and shrewd.

- The ancients believed that the "serpent" represented crafty wisdom. Even the Greek name is associated with a sharp focus. His nature leads humanity to focus anywhere beside God!

- Of course, we are much more familiar with the words "devil" and "Satan." The Devil is the accuser of the brethren, our prosecuting attorney and the adversary of Christ and Christ's people.

- He is the true and ultimate criminal mastermind and at the end of the Great Tribulation, our enemy is bound with an initial sentence. He is shut up and the door is sealed above him.

- Satan isn't going anywhere! With minimal effort, God was able to set Satan aside.

- The next line however, is somewhat troubling. After the thousand years, "he must be released for a little while!" Why? Why let him loose again? Will this be probation for good behavior?

- Not at all. What is difficult for us to see is the purpose that Satan serves in God's economy.

- There will be a very important reason for his release, which we will see in a moment. Until then, he is behind proverbial bars. Verse 4.

• Revelation 20:4a : "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them." : There are thrones and there are people who occupied them. They are given the right to pronounce and enact judgment. Who are the they?

- Daniel 7 offers us some insights that are very valuable at this point. Daniel watched this scene until "thrones were put in place and the Ancient of Days was seated." (Daniel 7:25)

- He is describing the Lord's victory final victory over the Antichrist and his system.

- When the court is finished taking their seats, Daniel tells us that the people seated are the "Saints of the Most High!" (Daniel 7:27)

- The Lord will give a portion of His people the right to judge the people that are left upon this earth! Perhaps it is the 24 elders. Their oversight will be over an interesting group. Verse 4.

• Revelation 20:4b-5 : "Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." : The Apostle makes note of the souls who had lost their lives during the Great Tribulation.

- They had been beheaded on account of remaining faithful to their witness to Jesus and for their loyalty to the word of God!

- When the world demanded that they concede, these men and women held their ground, held to their Lord and held fast, as the NLT renders, to their "proclamation of the word of God!"

- They would not go silent and these paid the ultimate price. They refused to bow their knees to the Antichrist or his vile image. They gave up their rights to participate in the open market.

- They could not buy or sell without his mark, a decision that would supposedly seal their fate. And it did. They died at the hands of the Antichrist system and THEY LIVED AGAIN!

- Truly, when a life is in the hands of Almighty God, that life is never lost! Jesus tells this to Martha shortly after her brother Lazarus died. "He who believes in me will never die!" (John 11:26)

- Similarly, the Lord makes a telling remark to the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection or anything supernatural for that matter. Turn in your Bibles to Luke 20.

- Jesus is listening to the Sadducees put together a long narrative regarding Levirate marriage and a wife that outlived seven brothers. "Whose wife will she be in the resurrection?"

• Luke 20:34-38 : "Jesus answered and said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.'" : When Jesus is Your Lord, you are always alive to God! The final joke will be on the world that tried to fool God's people into giving up their true lives!

- They "died" as enemies of the state, as paupers, as men and women with the least of the world's riches. On this day, they live as those co-regents to the King of Kings!

- They reigned along with Him for a thousand years! What a bargain when you think about it: These people gave up their potential 80 years for a guaranteed thousand and then some!

- What kind of math covers this sort of spread!? Our lives on Earth are but a vapor! (Psalm 39:4,11) Our true life in Christ is eternal! That is the whole story of the "righteous dead."

- They lived in Him, chose obedience to Him, died in Him, rose in Him and will live again in Him! The story of the unrighteous dead however, is quite different.

- They did not raise, but remained in their suspended state until the end of the thousand year period. What John was witnessing was the "blessed and holy" first resurrection.

- It is happy and sacred for God and His people as God endow His faithful servants with power and privilege upon the Earth. The second death will have no power over them.

- What an intriguing statement to make and one very worthy of you uttmost consideration. These had gone through a first death.

- Unless the rapture occurs, each Christian is going to face death. Like Elisha, we will all die of the sickness that we will die from! That death is necessary, a part of our journey home.

- It's the second death that is a choice. The first death is physical, the second death is spiritual. The first death ends a life and the second death brings with it a judicial and eternal sentence!

- The old statement is still true today: "Live once, Die twice. Live twice, Die once!"

- These who are raised during this thousand year period will never have to concern themselves with the second death. They are untouchable priests that will reign with and serve Christ!

- How will they serve Him? They will be priests. Priests have always represented God's desires to men and they have represented men before God!

- It's incredible to believe, but the presence of priests is indicative of men who will relay the desires of King Jesus to other men.

- This means that there will be men who survive the Great Tribulation without having made a decision to trust Christ, nor have they given their loyalty to the Beast. How will this be possible?

- Were they born to people late in the Tribulation period? Could it be that kids will be exempt until a certain age from the mark of the beast? Are these just cave dwelling doom preppers!?

- We don't know, but at the end of the age, the Lord will separates the sheep from the goats and the Lord's people are brought into the Kingdom, while the unbelievers are outside of it.

- All will benefit from the Lord's government and justice on this planet for a thousand years. Life will flourish in ways that have never been seen before according to scripture.

- I won't be able to give you an exhaustive list this morning, but consider these passages and what they tell us of the quality of life that will be the norm in the Millenium.

- Ezekiel 47:8 reports that water coming from the Temple will heal the waters of this planet. Isaiah 30:23-26 describes a new and longer pattern of day and night.

- Predictably, because the Prince of Peace will rule from Jerusalem, the world will experience unprecedented peace, according to Isaiah 2:2-4.

- Isaiah 35:5,6 speaks of a world without disability or defect. Consequently, men will live with lifespans similar to those found in the early parts of Genesis!

- Isaiah 65:20-23 tells us that a 100 year old will be considered a "baby" and that the lives of the righteous will be compared with those of trees! Whatever our work will be will not be in vain!

- That means that there will be work to do, but it will not be cursed by frustration as it is today!

- And then, there is my personal favorite quality. Isaiah 11:6-9 presents a picture of men and animals living in such harmony, that it won't be strange to find a nursing child playing with cobras!

  - That is what the Millenium will be like in short! But, then we come to verse 7.

• Revelation 20:7-10 : "Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." : John fast forwards to the end and the release of Satan. Without batting an eye, Satan returns to his ways.

- A thousand years, a million or even a billion years would never issue in his rehabilitation!

- There has been no reform, no change in his nature. The moment he is released, he begins to work out his plan to lead the nations away from their safety. That is what it means "to deceive!"

- There is safety in Jesus Christ, protection as we obey Him, preservation as we choose His will over our own. Satan will do all he can to lure us out from that string of truths to trust ourselves!

- "But certainly, he won't have a chance now!" Look at how humanity has recovered! A thousand years of peace have produced nations of men upon every "corner" of the globe!

- Despite the overwhelmingly positive conditions upon the planet, Satan is still able to spur men on with the same set of temptations that he has always used!

- "Is God good?" "He won't punish you like He said!" "He just doesn't want you to be free!" Unbelievably, Satan will be able to rouse humanity to attempt to rebel against God again!

- Do you see what role Satan plays in the economy of God? God will not have men love Him who have had no choice to reject Him!

- Love requires real choice and Satan gives men the opportunity to make that choice! And within these verses lay the real purpose of the Millenium.

- Men will have a thousand years of peace. They will flourish like never before in history. They will have the opportunity to know Jesus and to see Him regularly.

- What keeps men from turning to God? It's not their lack of information. Jesus will be a visible King over the Earth and resurrected saints will lead people to listen to Him regularly!

- It won't be for their lack of powerful and present personalities. Did I mention resurrected saints? King David will be governor of Jerusalem! Imagine who else will be walking around!

- It can't be for their lack of an ideal environment. Nobody in the millenium will be able to cry "foul" against God. There will be no injustice. There will equal opportunity.

- But even with all of these advantages, human beings will still be living with their own worst problem: Their heart is dead before God, incapable of responding favorably toward Him!

- A thousand years, a million years of peaceful conditions won't change the fact that our own depravity is the greatest tool that our enemy possesses!

- It will be enough for Satan to rouse the nations to battle against the Lord and His holy city. John calls this group "Gog and Magog." This has been a source of some mystery.

- Is John giving away the timing of the Gog/Magog invasion and setting it at the end of the Millenium? If not, why is he using this language?

- Without getting too deep into the throes of Ezekiel 37 through 39, I will suggest that John is using these titles figuratively. I'll explain more in a moment.

- First, you'll note the size of this confederacy. The thousand years have produced quite a boon in population. There is a group that rivals the sand of the sea in number.

- They will organize themselves in such a way as to surround the New Jerusalem, the home of the King and all of His saints.

- As with the "Battle of Armageddon," this rebellion will be over in a moment of time. The Lord will hardly move and His saints won't feel an ounce of tension.

- The Lord will utterly consume these foes with fire from heaven. It won't even take a moment!

- This will be the Devil's final assault. In the wisdom of God, he is finally assigned to the lake of fire! He will finally be where he truly belongs, tormented in the lake of fire.

- Note who is there to greet him. Satan joins the Antichrist and the false prophet. They have been in the lake of fire since the end of the Great Tribulation for over a thousand years!

- They are still there, alive and in torment when Satan arrives! It gets even more clear as the Lord inspires John to delineate the length of their sentence.

- They will be tormented day and night forever and ever! There will be no reprieve. There will be no annhilation. The lake of fire will be full of God's enemies, beginning with these three!

- They may have plenty of room at the beginning, but they will not be alone for long! Verse 11.

• Revelation 20:11,12 : "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works." : John has looked upon many other thrones, but then, there was only one significant, radiant throne and only One who was allowed to sit upon it.

- The One on it was so fierce that none could stand in His presence. Earth and heaven fled away, as an opposing army flees for safety because there was no place for them.

- John is relaying to us that there isn't another thing in the Universe that can occupy the same space as the King of all Kings! When the judgment comes, He will judge by Himself.

- This is where everything is headed for humanity. The dead, the ones that had died in their unrighteous state now stand before God. The small and the great, the mikros and the megas.

- There isn't a person with enough clout to get out of this, nor is there a person who is so insignificant that they can skip out!

- They are bid to stand before God and books are opened. In ancient times, a person who was beckoned to stand in court was only there to receive their sentence!

- This is not a judgment where one argues their case. This is a judgment where men's cases confirm men's place in the Universe. How are they judged? That's where the books come in.

- "And the dead were judged according to their works." These are the actions that are recorded in the volumes pertaining to a person's life!

- God's judgment upon mankind will be just and mankind will receive what their works deserve.

- Unfortunately, there isn't a person alive whose works can bring them to an abiding righteous standard before a holy God! In the absence of faith, even "good works" are tainted!

- Imagine doing things that you think are good, but doing them from a motive of self-interest. That supposed "good work" means nothing before God!

- I can imagine being here at this moment, thinking, "Good. God has seen everything that I've done for Him. Now, we'll get this settled!" Unfortunately, it will be settled in an entirely different way!

- A person's works will be included in the books, as will the multiple times that the person has been called upon to trust in the FINISHED work of the Lord Jesus.

- There may be volumes of books collected by God regarding the record of your life, but if your name has not been registered in the Book of Life, you are nowhere! There is no balancing act here!

- All of our good works OUTSIDE of our faith in Jesus Christ, equal to less than nothing! Here is the work of God: That you believe in Him who He sent! (John 6:29)

- When you look at this judgment, you may wonder if there is any that could escape. Maybe their death was far enough away that they would have escaped God's judgment!

- Perhaps, in the intermediate state between physical death and the Great White Throne judgment, they had suffered enough. Think again!

- The sea gave up it's dead. Hades, the place of the unrighteous dead, gave up it's dead. Every single person who has ever lived and died will stand before the Lord and be judged!

- The dividing line will be based upon one's response to Jesus Christ, the most important question that one can answer in this lifetime! Verse 14.

• Revelation 20:14,15 : "Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." : We cannot truly comprehend this moment.

- Death itself, the ruling entity that has been the penalty for sin, will be thrown into the lake of fire. It will no longer hold any sway over mankind again.

- Never again will death be the inevitable end of any person. This final enemy will be destroyed forever. Because death is unnecessary, so also is the grave.

- Hades is the holding place of the unrighteous dead. In one swift moment, all of Hades is tossed into the lake of fire.

- This is the second death, the moment when God's sentence upon unbelieving humanity is finalized for all eternity! These will have lived once and died twice!

- The first death is physical, the second death is spiritual! The first death is natural, the second death is supernatural. What do I mean by this? Listen to this phrase.

- Every person not found in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire! Those that are in the lake of fire will be tormented day and night for ever and ever! (Revelation 20:10)

- There is no way to say this any more clearly in the Greek language. If you have ever believed in annhilationism, you have no scriptural ground to stand upon.

- It is a sentimental favorite among those with little backbone, but it is undeniably heresy! But how is it possible for flesh to remain in such a tortured position for all of eternity?

- There are two options here. First, the righteous are given bodies that can inhabit and enjoy eternal reward. It is possible that there are similar bodies given to the unrighteous?

- Are they granted bodies that are able to endure eternal punishment? I cannot recall a single scripture that says this or even hints at it. This leads me to my second thought.

- Colossians 1:17 tells us that in Christ, all things "consist," that is, they are held together. It seems very clear that Jesus is able to hold the unrighteous together for all eternity.

- There in torment, their "worm will not die and their fire is not quenched! (Isaiah 66:24) This doctrine is as true as it is sobering and you would do well never to be guilty of softening it!

Conclusion
- As we close, there are many things which call for our attention, but this is what is paramount: Do you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior? Have you repented from your sin and believed upon Him?

- These are assured that they have no fear of the second death, nor will they be anywhere near the White Throne judgment! Hell is real, eternal and painful.

- Even if it cost you everything, it would be worth it to avoid this place! And the beauty is that it already cost Christ everything to offer it to you for "free!"

- If you have never called upon the name of the Lord, if this chapter teaches us anything, it teaches us to do just that! May He move upon your heart to respond today!

Sunday Morning Service (Revelation 19)

Revelation 19

Audio Access Available Above

“But What About The Church?” •  11.22.20  •  Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- We have completed the section of Revelation dealing with God's judgments upon unbelieving men. The seals, trumpets and bowls have all served to bring mankind to it's knees.

- God has gone from surgical strikes to outright shock and awe, all of which culminates in a final showdown in the Valley of Armageddon.

- Revelation 19 provides a different perspective upon the events of the Great Tribulation. This chapter presents the experience of the Church from it's safe vantage point in heaven.

- John will begin with the last chronological event that he covered, namely the fall of Babylon, the Kingdom of the Antichrist, and then he will take us through the entire tribulation period.

- As it pertains to us, we'll note first, the call to "Celebration." Verse 1.

Text

• Revelation 19:1-3 : "After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, 'Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.' Again they said, 'Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!'" : "After these things" refers to the final fall of Babylon. That victory on Earth was witnessed in heaven.

- Recall to memory that the inhabitants of heaven were invited to rejoice at Babylon's fall. (Revelation 18:20) This verse provides some of that content of that rejoicing.

- What John heard was a single loud voice that emanated from a great multitude in heaven. If you have ever felt as if you were the only person that has believed, think again!

- There are multiplied billions of men and women, who over the life of this planet, have been faithful to the Lord Jesus, who live now before the presence of God in Heaven!

- We will be a part of that number and we will join our voices in agreement, as we sing "Alleluia" to the Lord!

- You might be interested to learn that "Alleluia" only appears four times in the New Testament and it is exclusive to this chapter! The word simply means, "Praise the Lord!"

- Praise Him because these words and concepts belong to Him. We say them now and understand their meaning, but we will say them then with complete understanding.

- His salvation will not simply be the saving of our souls, but the redeeming of the entire Universe! His glory, the weight of His being will be felt, experienced as we stand before Him.

- To honor Him will be our natural response, as we learn what honor was invented for!

- His power, on that day in heaven, will exist in our minds, with a brand new set of perameters! We will know experientially that there is nothing impossible for our God!

- Salvation, glory, honor and power to our God! It will be clear to us then, as will our perspective of justice and righteousness!

- Heaven proclaims in unison that His actions are in accordance with the truth and righteousness that one would expect from divinity related to the "Great Harlot!"

- God has punished her in appropriate measure, first, because she has corrupted the Earth!

- The word speaks of a fruit that has withered or shriveled and is spoiled beyond the point of being edible. In other places, the same word is related to ruin or defilement.

- When God looks upon this Earth, He sees a defilement that has permeated the whole.

- Earth's inhabitants have offered themselves to every other suitor in defiance to God and the Beast's system has enabled men to pursue an ever soul defiling way.

- Second, the Great Harlot has been responsible for shedding the blood of His servants. She has provoked God by treating His kids with utter contempt!

- When Saul of Tarsus was hunting Christians, you'll recall that Jesus stopped him in his tracks and introduced Himself by saying, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting!" (Acts 9:5)

- We are so united to Christ by His death that when we are mistreated, He is mistreated!

- Babylon thought that she could sin with impunity, but the Lord vindicated His servants and they are present here, praising the Lord for His victory and for the smoking hole that is left! Verse 4.

• Revelation 19:4,5 : "And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, 'Amen! Alleluia!' Then a voice came from the throne, saying, 'Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!'" : These elders and creatures don't need much incentive to begin their praise. They threw themselves to the ground and "kissed toward" the Lord.

- Everything that the multitude is saying is good to them! "Amen! Praise the Lord indeed!" What a joyful environment! God will be worshipped for all eternity and it will never get old!

- Even from the throne, there is a call to give further praise to our God! This is incredibly provocative! A member of the Trinity is calling for the worship of another member of the Trinity!

- Who is He calling? "All you His servants!" That is the only designation that heaven makes regarding you and I! We are simply His bondslaves, who revere our Lord!

- We live in a healthy state of fear or respect, motivated by love, not wanting to displease, but to please Him! And yes, there will be a difference in our stations.

- Some will be servants with a "micro" opportunity. They are small, insignificant men.

  Others will be servants with a "mega" platform. They will be known by men. God expects praise from both sources! That is what we are practicing today!

- Our unique voices, our own identity is glorifying to Christ! This little pocket of Christianity will exist as long as it exists to give it's best praise to Him!

- When we get there, when we are called upon to add our voices to the throng, we'll be well practiced and ready to go! At this point, God takes us back to the beginning of the Tribulation.

- We move from "Celebration" to "Consummation" as the Lord brings His bride home! V. 6.

• Revelation 19:6-8 : "And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.' And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." : John is hearing something that sounds like a giant crowd or a rushing waterfall or a maybe a thunderstorm, each sound louder than the last.

- John may not be able to pinpoint the exact sound, but there is no question as to what is being proclaimed! "Praise the Lord because the Lord God Ominpotent reigns!" This seems redundant.

- He is the Lord God and by that virtue, He is Omnipotent, all powerful, the "One who holds sway over all things!" But the truth is inescapable and worthy of repeating! He reigns!

- He rules over all things! The signal that this is true is the event that they are marking.

- The language indicates that heaven's occupants are ready to rejoice and jump for joy! All will give Him glory at His own wedding! This is the social event of all eternity and the story of the Bible!

- This is why traditional marriage is such an important, God ordained institution. It's male and female counterpoint illustrates the eternal relationship between Christ and His bride, the Church.

- We don't have time to read all of Genesis 24, but it's a beautiful type of the Father's procuring of a Bride for the Son. Abraham sends out his servant, most believe to Eliezer, or "Helper!"

- God's Spirit has gone out into the world to draw out from it a wife for God the Son!

- God the Son, like Isaac, isn't seen again until after the sacrifice and after He prepared a place for His bride! Interestingly, in a world of arranged marriage, the bride's choice is a pivotal plot point!

- And here, just prior to the tribulation, God the Father has given approval to the Son to receive His bride! This brings us to a necessary understanding of what marriage was like for the Jews.

- First, there was an agreement between parents, made early in the lives of their children. Then, there was betrothal, an engagement on steroids that was only broken by legal action.

- Finally, there was the marriage feast that began when the groom picked up the bride.

- The approximate time was known, but the hour was not! Only the Father of the groom could give the final approval to the Son's preparations. When the bride was called, the feast began!

- For the Jewish nation, this commenced a week of celebration, a reception that was so joyous, many of the Jews taught that it was good to set aside lawful practices if it detracted from the joy!

- Look at this symetry: Before you were born, God chose you to be a part of His bride. When you received Him, He gave you His Spirit and engaged you to Himself!

- Someday soon, He will call us to the home that has been prepared for us and we'll begin to enjoy our marriage supper week with Him! That is what this moment is referring to!

- The marriage of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready! How has she readied herself? By accepting the garments provided for her! "And to her it was granted!"

- What she is in this moment is what she has been granted to be! She has been given clothing. She has not earned or purchased this clothing! It has been given to her.

- John describes it as fine linen, clean, from the word that gives us our word "kathartic" and bright which gives us our word "lamp."

- The Beast's system no longer has the ability to market fine linen and Christ's bride could never afford it anyway! In heaven, it is His gift to us!

- We had come to Christ wearing only filthy rags, which represented our best righteousness. That is what we looked like on the day that the Holy Spirit called us to Christ.

- It was the Holy Spirit who attended to us, exchanging those awful clothes for the beautiful clothes that we will wear on that day, the clothes emblematic of our righteousnesses in Christ!

- Our impoverished spiritual state will not be remembered as we enter into the proper estate of the King's bride! Our clothing will be that which is fit for the bride of the King of Righteousness!

- We are clothed in the righteous acts that the Lord purposed in us and performed through us! We'll be the radiant bride that He has intended us to be all along! Verse 9.

• Revelation 19:9,10 : "Then he said to me, 'Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ And he said to me, 'These are the true sayings of God.' And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'" : Who is speaking to John? We have to go back to the beginning of Revelation 17 for that answer. This is the angel that called John away to witness the demise of religious Babylon.

- That angel commands John to write this, not for people who are at the marriage supper, but for those that are living at John's time! "Blessed," "happy," are those that are invited to this event!

- I remember someone commenting once that the word "makarios" when spoken to a person about their own condition, was a term of congratulations!

- The believers who were living at the end of the first century, the ones who made up the congregations of the seven churches, are these people!

- I've attempted to answer each charge made by various Christians about the Pre-millenial position that I have done my best to relay to you. One objection is the supposed "lack of applicability."

- Here is a prime example of what these first century believers needed to hear! They needed to understand that being invited to be a part of the marriage supper of the Lamb is it's own reward!

- It is worth examining my love, remaining faithful to Christ, even the surrendering of my own life for the promise that awaits me! If that was true then, how much more is it true now!

- How blessed are you and I who have been invited into God's grace, to partake of the great riches of our Savior and to receive our part of this supper! What would you give in exchange for that!?

- Perhaps you wonder if this could ever truly happen. "What guarantee do I have that this offer is for real?" The angel anticipated your question. "These are the TRUE sayings of God!"

- These are not the angel's promises. These are God's sayings and if anything in this universe is true, it's the capacity for God to bless His people with happiness! This leads to a strange moment.

- Upon hearing these words, John falls down before the angel to offer him worship! What is happening here? What caused this response in John? He knows that this isn't Jesus.

- He knows that worship is reserved only for the Lord and before he can really begin to embarass himself, the angel stops him in his tracks.

- This angel is a servant to John, indeed to all believers who presently possess the witness of Jesus. They are motivated by and from it. John isn't to worship his own servant.

- He is to worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. This has been one of the most confusing sentences in Revelation to me. Today, I hope to clear it up!

- The witness of Jesus that is held by all believers is the very heart and purpose for why the gift of prophecy exists.

- Yes, we are in a book that foretells, to some degree, the future. But that is not the primary definition of the word "prophecy." It is to "forthtell," to instruct in the Word of God.

- God's point in providing the testimony of Jesus is to instruct His people to worship Him! Or, as the NLT renders it, "For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus."

- We have seen a "Celebration" over the defeat of Babylon, the "Consummation" of redemption history in the fulfillment of our marriage to Christ. Finally, note our "Coming With Christ!"

• Revelation 19:11-14 : "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses." : Verse 11 focuses upon the event which marks the end of the Great Tribulation, which is the second coming of Jesus Christ! Here is THE TRUE white horse!

- The Antichrist was symbolized in Revelation 6:1,2 as having ridden a white horse, but he was an imitator! He will be nothing like the Lord, who is called "faithful and true."

- Unlike the Antichrist, Jesus Christ works from a basis of righteousness, judging and making war upon those who have sworn themselves to be His enemies!

- The language indicates that this has always been and will always be His way of operating! He will never do anything that can be honestly questioned!

- They have refused to surrender so they will be conquered. They will refuse to acknowledge His rightful place as the King of this Universe, but their time will have run out!

- Jesus appears with eyes that can burn through you! He can't be fooled. He sees clearly into the human soul. His multiple crowns reveal that He has the authority to Judge!

- He has a Name written that only He knows. Many have sought to figure this out with endless speculation. Here's what you need to know: Only HE KNOWS this Name!

- His robe looks as though it were dipped in blood. It's a bit of an irony here as He was once covered in His own blood, spilled for our sins.

- At the cross, the Prince of Peace died to reconcile future believers to Himself, His blood becoming the payment for their sins and the ground of their forgiveness for eternity.

- Here, at the Battle of Armageddon, those who have refused the blood of the only Savior, will have their blood spilled as the beginning consequence to their desire to pay for their own sin!

- On your own time, please take the time to read Isaiah 63:1-6. This is the Word of God! This is the testimony of Jesus!

- He has done everything possible to make this conflict as minimal as possible. Unfortunately, there will be casualties and there will be blood!

- There will be none among us, as we are witnesses, but are kept clean, only doing what we have always done: Follow Him to His victory! Verse 15.

• Revelation 19:15,16 : "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." : There is only one offensive weapon that Jesus ever needs.

- It is the sharp sword of His Word! This applies two ways. First, at the battle of Armageddon.

- Jesus will not need a literal sword to do His work for Him. He will speak and the men who oppose Him will combust before Him! In this way, He will strike the nations and tread over them.

- At the same time, this could also refer to His future Kingdom and the Word of God that stands as the standard of righteousness. Either statement is true, as is the following statement.

- Jesus will not rule through an institution or a body of elders. He Himself will rule with an unbreakable rod! He will tread the winepress of His wrath alone.

- Nobody will be able to deny who He is on that day: He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and above Him, there is no other! Verse 17.

• Revelation 19:17,18 : "Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, 'Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.'" : These angels are incredible beings! This one is standing in the sun, announcing to all the birds that they are going to enjoy a great feast as well! This is the supper of the great God!

- What will be on the menu? The flesh of all mankind! Notice the repitition. The flesh of Kings, the flesh of Captains, etc.

- No matter who these people are they are united by the fact that they are simply and solely flesh! Every kind of man will be there upon that final "battlefield.

- The showdown at Armageddon though will be a "battle" that is as much of a battle as an execution is! All the remnant of unbelieving men will stand in one place and be judged!

- Many have pointed to the fact that because horses are being used here, it must speak of the fact that this has already been fulfilled. Some of course retreat behind "symbolic language."

- The horse could represent, in their mind, a mode of transportation. If that is the case, it must be a new kind of "fleshy" transport!

- Could it be that there is an event that leaves men dependant upon horses because they are no longer able to employ diesel or solar powered vehicles?

- Is this a part of the destruction of commercial Babylon and the pipelines that serve the nations their fuel? It's certainly possible!

- Whatever the case, the Lord promises a feast for the ages! The birds will get theirs! Verse 19.

• Revelation 19:19-21 : "And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh." : At Armageddon, the beast will be at the helm of unified humanity. They may not have a city, but they have kept to their purpose.

- When Christ appears, unredeemed humanity will do what it has always done. It will line up to fight against the Creator of the Universe!

- They will make their final stand and make a name for themselves, if even for futility! The men will line up against the Lord and His army, but the battle won't even begin!

- The result will be the arrest of the Antichrist and his false prophet. He had been so powerful performing his signs. He was clever enough to deceive the masses, but not clever enough to escape!

- He will be responsible for millions of people's conversion to Satan and they will both be thrown with all their senses into the lake of fire. Everyone else was left for the birds to consume! 

- The birds that attended this feast were gorged upon the flesh of dead men! Moments earlier, they had been among the powerful and elite. Moments later, they are merely bird food! Stunning.

Conclusion
- Chapter 19 begins with our "Celebration" with God as His victory over the Beast's system is finalized. It takes us back to the beginning of the Tribulation and the "Consummation" of our union.

- He has chosen us, He has sealed us and soon, He will come to get us, that we might be His forever and ever!

- After we have celebrated our "week" with Him, we'll be "Coming Back" with Him to the supper of our great God!

- One might summarize this chapter in this way: You are either honored at the Marriage supper of the Lamb or you are ON THE MENU at the supper of our Great God!

- May we have the grace to know where we will be on this day!