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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 73

TITLE: THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB

TEXT: REVELATION 19:7-10

INTRODUCTION: (1) THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE WAS ORDAINED BY GOD IN GENESIS 2:24.

* IN FACT, THE MARITAL RELATIONSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED AS THE FIRST HUMAN INSTITUTION BY GOD.

** AND MARRIAGE ACCORDING TO GOD’S WORD IS HONORABLE AND GOOD.

*** HEBREWS 13:4 SAYS: (READ IT)

**** THEN PROVERBS 18:22 SAYS: (READ IT).

(2) THOSE TRUTHS COMMUNICATE MARRIAGE IS GOOD, GOD ORDAINED, HONORABLE, HIGHLY ESTEEMED AND IS PRECIOUS.

* AND BACK IN THE FIRST CENTURY, A WEDDING OR MARRIAGE WAS THE SINGLE GREATEST CELEBRATION AND SOCIAL EVENT.

** IT WAS THEE EVENT IN THAT DAY, AN EVENT FILLED WITH JOY, CELEBRATION AND COMMITMENT.

*** BECAUSE OF THAT, WEDDING PREPARATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS WERE MUCH MORE ELABORATE AND INVOLVED THAN THOSE OF TODAY AND LASTED LONGER, BOTH IN THE TIME FOR THE WEDDING CELEBRATION AND IN TIME OR THE DURATION OF THE MARRIAGE – UNTIL DEATH DO YOU PART WAS THE RULE, AT LEAST IN JEWISH HOMES.

**** NOW WITH THAT SAID, WEDDING CUSTOMS VARIED IN THE ANCIENT WORLD FROM SOCIETY TO SOCIETY.

(3) BUT GENERALLY IN JEWISH SOCIETY THERE WERE 3 DISTINCT EVENT ASSOCIATED WITH A MARRIAGE.

* NO. 1 WAS THE BETROTHAL. NOW THE BETROTHAL OR ENGAGEMENT WHICH THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT TO MARRY.

** AND DURING THIS EXTENDED PERIOD, THE GROOM AND BRIDE CALLED EACH OTHER HUSBAND AND WIFE AND REMAINED FAITHFUL TO EACH OTHER IN A TIME OF PREPARATION, BUT THERE WOULD BE NO CONSUMMATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP, NO PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP UNTIL STEP 3 OR THE THIRD EVENT.

*** THIS WAS THE STAGE JOSEPH AND MARY WERE AT IN MATTHEW 1:18&19 (READ MATTHEW 1:18 AND COMMENT.)

**** SO DURING BETROTHAL A COUPLE WAS CONSIDERED MAN AND WIFE BUT DID NOT LIVE TOGETHER, NOR WOULD THEY COME TOGETHER PHYSICALLY.

(4) NOW TO ADD TO THAT, WHICH OUR UNMARRIED YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOVE, THE BETROTHAL WAS AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.

* FOR AN ARRANGEMENT WAS MADE BY BOTH SETS OF PARENTS CONTRACTING THE MARRIAGE OF THEIR CHILDREN.

** THIS CONTRACT OR COMMITMENT WAS LEGALLY BINDING AND COULD ONLY BE BROKEN BY MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS – ADULTERY.

*** AND GENERALLY A SUITABLE DOWRY WAS PAID TO SEAL THE CONTRACT, MAYBE 25 CAMELS OR 25 SHEEP OR 25 GOATS. (I THINK SOME OF OUR YOUNG LADIES IN THE CHURCH TODAY MIGHT EVEN BRING 50 CAMELS) – WHO KNOWS?

**** WELL, A BETROTHAL CONTRACT WAS OFTEN SIGNED LONG BEFORE THE CHILDREN REACHED THE MARRIAGEABLE AGE OF 13 OR 14. (FOR SOME OF YOU, DON’T GET ANY IDEAS – I DON’T WANT YOUR PARENTS REBUKING ME FOR THAT.)

(5) BUT SERIOUSLY, THE PARENTS WERE HEAVILY INVOLVED, FOR MARRIAGE REPRESENTED THE UNION OF TWO FAMILIES, AND THE BETROTHAL WOULD LAST FOR YEARS, FOR THE BOY AND YOUNG MAN WOULD HAVE TO PREPARE TO PROVIDE FOR HIS BRIDE, THERE WAS NO ELOPING!

* NO. 2 THE SECOND EVENT OR SECOND STAGE OF THE WEDDING IN JEWISH SOCIETY WAS THE CEREMONY OR THE PRESENTATION.

** IT WAS A TIME OF FESTIVITIES JUST BEFORE THE ACTUAL CEREMONY.

*** AND AT THIS TIME, WHEN THE COUPLE HAD REACHED AN APPROPRIATE AGE, THE GROOM WENT IN PROCESSION WITH HIS FRIENDS, TO THE HOME OF HIS BRIDE AND ESCORTED HER BACK TO HIS HOME THAT HE HAD BEEN PREPARING FOR HER, WHERE THE CEREMONY WOULD TAKE PLACE.

**** AND THIS STAGE WOULD LAST FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND UP TO A WEEK DEPENDING ON THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STATUS OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM.

(6) AND THEN CAME THE 3’D STAGE OR 3’D EVENT IN THE JEWISH CEREMONY WHICH WAS THE SUPPER OR THE ACTUAL WEDDING CEREMONY, WHERE THE VOWS WERE ACTUALLY EXCHANGED.

* AND THIS IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT STAGE FOR AFTER THE CEREMONY WOULD COME A FINAL MEAL, FOLLOWED BY THE CONSUMMATION OF THE MARRIAGE.

** SO WITH THE WEDDING CEREMONY OVER, THE BRIDEGROOM INTRODUCED THE BRIDE TO HER HOME, AND IT IS THERE THAT THE MARRIAGE FEAST TOOK PLACE.

*** AND THIS WAS VARIOUSLY CALLED THE MARRIAGE FEAST OR THE MARRIAGE SUPPER AND WAS NOT JUST ONE MEAL, AS IN MANY WESTERN CULTURES, BUT A SERIES OF FESTIVITIES THAT COULD GO ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

**** WELL, IT’S THIS STAGE, THIS 3’D STAGE, THE MARRIAGE SUPPER THAT WE ARE INTRODUCED TO IN OUR STUDY TODAY.

(7) AND THIS MARRIAGE FEAST IS CALLED THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB IN V. 9 AND THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB.

* AND IN THIS PICTURE, CHRIST THE LAMB IS THE BRIDEGROOM AND CHRIST’S BRIDE HAS MADE HERSELF READY.

** AND WHAT WE WILL SEE IN OUR TEXT TODAY IS THE FINAL UNION OF THE BRIDEGROOM AND THE BRIDE WHICH IS MARKED BY A GREAT SUPPER.

*** AND THAT GREAT SUPPER IS CALLED THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB, WHICH IS THE TITLE OF OUR MESSAGE TODAY.

**** AND UNDER THAT TITLE AND THEME WE WILL LOOK AT 4 POINTS IN OUR STUDY OF REVELATION 19:7-10.

(8) NO. 1 THE PRAISE IN HEAVEN, V. 7; NO. 2 THE PREPARATION OF THE BRIDE, V. 8; NO. 3 THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVITED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER; AND NO. 4 THE PROHIBITION COMMUNICATED BY AN ANGEL TO JOHN.

* AND WITH THOSE POINTS TO HANG YOUR THOUGHTS ON, LOOK AT V. 7 WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE PRAISE. LOOK AT REVELATION 19:7 PLEASE.

I. THE PRAISE, (READ V. 7)

A. NOW WE MUST GO BACK TO V. 6 AND BEFORE TO UNDERSTAND WHOM THE US OF V. 7 IS TALKING ABOUT, “LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD.

* AND THE “US” IS THE GREAT MULTITUDE TALKED ABOUT IN V. 6 THAT MOST LIKELY CONSISTS OF THE 24 ELDERS, THE 4 LIVING CREATURES AND ALL THE REDEEMED IN HEAVEN INCLUDING THE TRIBULATION MARTYRS.

** AND IF YOU RECALL FROM OUR STUDY LAST SUNDAY THERE WAS A LOT OF REJOICING GOING ON IN HEAVEN AS A RESULT OF GOD’S JUDGMENT OF BABYLON, IN FACT THERE WERE 4 HALLELUJAHS, PRAISE THE LORDS AS A SPECTACULAR HALLELUJAH CHORUS WAS GOING ON IN HEAVEN.

*** WELL, THE PRAISE AND THE REJOICING CONTINUES IN V. 7 AS THE GREAT MULTITUDE MOVES, SHIFTS FROM PRAISE FOR GOD’S JUDGMENT OF BABYLON TO THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB.

**** SO THE CELEBRATION CONTINUES AND THE WORDS ARE UTTERED “LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD AND GIVE GLORY TO HIM”–HIM BEING THE LAMB-THE LORD JESUS.

1. NOW THE PRAISE CONSISTS OF REJOICING. AND THE VERB REJOICE LIT. MEANS TO EXULT AND TO REJOICE EXCEEDINGLY, TO GREATLY REJOICE.

* AND THE VERB “BE GLAD” IS A SYNONYMOUS VERB MEANING THE SAME THING FOR EMPHASIS FOR IT LIT. MEANS TO REJOICE, TO REJOICE EXCEEDINGLY, TO HAIL, AND ALTHOUGH IT IS A DIFFERENT GREEK VERB THAN REJOICE, IT BASICALLY MEANS THE SAME THING, COMBINED, DESCRIBING A WELLING UP OF PRAISE.

** IN FACT THESE TWO GREEK VERBS ARE USED TOGETHER IN MATTHEW 5:12 IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (READ MATTHEW 5:10-12.)

*** SO REJOICING AND BEING GLAD IS THE CALL FOR CHRISTIANS ON EARTH THAT ARE PERSECUTED AT ANY TIME IN THE N.T. AND GOING BACK TO OUR TEXT, REJOICING AND BEING GLAD WILL BE THE RESPONSE OF THE MULTITUDE IN HEAVEN.

**** NOW MOVING ON, NOTICE NOT ONLY REJOICING AND BEING GLAD, BUT ALSO GIVING GLORY TO HIM.

2. AND THE WORD GLORY IS DOXA FROM WHICH WE GET OUR WORD DOXOLOGY, AND IT IS WHAT ALL CREATION SHOULD DO-ASCRIBE GLORY TO THE LAMB, TO PRAISE THE LAMB, TO HONOR THE LAMB.

* NOW NEXT THE CONJUNCTION “FOR” POINTS TO THE GROUNDS, THE MEANS, THE REASON FOR THE PRAISE HERE, FOR, THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAS COME.

** AND THIS INTRODUCES TO US A 3’D “OF THE LAMB” PHRASE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

*** LET ME EXPLAIN. WE SEE THE PHRASE “THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB” IN REVELATION 7:14 AND REVELATION 12:11 WHICH POINTS US BACK TO THE CROSS, BACK TO CALVARY WHERE CHRIST SHED HIS BLOOD AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.

**** THEN WE SEE THE PHRASE “THE WRATH OF THE LAMB” IN REVELATION 6:16 WHICH POINTS UPWARD TO THE THRONE.

3. AND NOW WE SEE THE PHRASE “THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB” HERE IN REVELATION 19:7. AND THIS PHRASE POINTS US FORWARD TO DAYS OF GLADNESS AND JOY.

* SO THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB POINTS US BACKWARD TO THE CROSS, THE WRATH OF THE LAMB POINTS US UPWARD TO THE THRONE AND THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB POINTS US FORWARD TO A FUTURE DAY OF GLADNESS AND JOY.

** SO PRAISE BE TO THE LAMB-THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

*** BUT NOTICE ONE LAST THING IN V. 7 THAT BRINGS FORTH PRAISE AND REJOICING, “HIS BRIDE HAS MADE HERSELF READY.”

**** AND HIS IS THE LAMB’S BRIDE, AND HIS BRIDE IS NOW READY. NOW WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

4. WELL, THE AORIST TENSE OF THE VERB READY SHOWS THAT THE PROCESS OF PREPARATION IS COMPLETE.

* AND BASICALLY WHAT IT MEANS IS SHE, THE BRIDE HAS PUT ON HER WEDDING DRESS WHICH IS THE BIG QUESTION FOR A LOT OF WEDDINGS, WHAT WILL THE BRIDE WEAR?

** WELL WHAT THIS BRIDE WEARS IS COMMUNICATED IN V. 8 WHERE WE WILL SEE OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE PREPARATION, THE PREPARATION OF THE BRIDE. LOOK AT V. 8 PLEASE.

II. THE PREPARATION, (READ V. 8)

A. NOW NOTICE HOW IN V. 8 THAT THE BRIDE’S WEDDING DRESS IS GIVEN TO HER.

* AND IN ESSENCE THE BRIDAL DRESS IS A GIFT FROM CHRIST, FOR THE VERB GIVEN OR GRANTED LIT. MEANS TO SUPPLY, TO GIVE SOMETHING TO SOMEONE, TO BESTOW A GIFT, TO SUPPLY, TO FURNISH.

** AND THE VERB OCCURS MANY TIMES IN REVELATION 6-20, EACH TIME SIGNALING SOMETHING GRANTED BY GOD.

*** AND HERE IN REVELATION 19:8, IT TELLS OF WHAT THE BRIDE HAS RECEIVED THROUGH DIVINE SOVEREIGN GRACE.

**** SO THE WEDDING DRESS IS GIVEN TO HER BY THE LAMB, HER BRIDEGROOM.

1. AND THIS DRESS IS MADE UP OF FINE LINEN, LIT.

EXPENSIVE AND BEAUTIFUL CLOTH.

* AND THIS EXPENSIVE BEAUTIFUL MATERIAL IS BRIGHT AND CLEAN, BRIGHT MEANING GLISTENING, SHINING OR RADIANT, WHITE.

** AND CLEAN MEANS PURE. THE MATERIAL OF THE DRESS IS PURE WHITE THAT GLISTENS, THAT SHINES, THAT IS RADIANT.

*** AND THEN SOMETHING IS ADDED AT THE END OF V. 8, “FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS.”

**** SO THE MATERIAL IS MADE UP OF THE RIGHTEOUS ACTIONS OR WORKS OF THE SAINTS OBVIOUSLY ON EARTH WHEN THEY SERVED CHRIST.

2. NOW THE QUESTION COMES AT THIS POINT, IS THIS CONTRADICTORY TO THE PHRASE GIVEN TO HER SINCE SHE, THE BRIDE, WORKED FOR IT?

* WELL, WHAT THIS BRIDE HAS DONE FOR HERSELF IS IN THE ULTIMATE SENSE A PROVISION OF GOD’S GRACE. FOR HER SELF-PREPARATION EQUATES TO GOD’S PROVISION FOR HER TO CLOTHE HERSELF IN BRIGHT, CLEAN FINE LINEN.

** TO SAY IT ANOTHER WAY, SALVATION IS GIVEN BY GRACE AND IS NOT EARNED BY WORKS, WE ARE JUSTIFIED FREELY BY GOD’S GRACE, DECLARED RIGHTEOUS.

*** BUT BECAUSE OF GOD’S WORK OF GRACE TO JUSTIFY US, THERE WILL BE SANCTIFICATION AND WORKS THAT FOLLOW BECAUSE OF JUSTIFICATION.

**** WHERE THERE IS JUSTIFICATION, THERE WILL BE SANCTIFICATION, THE TWO GO TOGETHER AND SANCTIFICATION IS THE RESULT OF JUSTIFICATION.

3. FAITH ALONE SAVES, BUT A FAITH THAT SAVES IS NEVER ALONE. WE DON’T WORK TO BE SAVED. WE WORK BECAUSE WE ARE SAVED AND FAITH WITHOUT WORDS IS DEAD FAITH, IT IS NOT TRUE FAITH, JAMES 2:26.

* NOW WITH THAT SAID, EPHESIANS 2:4&5 AND 8-10 COMMUNICATES THIS WONDERFUL TRUTH OF SALVATION BY GRACE NOT WORKS, BUT THAT GOD HAS ORDAINED WORKS AS A RESULT OF FAITH, READ EPHESIANS 2:4&5 AND 8-10.

** NOW WITH THAT TEXT IN MIND AS WE GO BACK TO THE BRIDE OF CHRIST AND THE END OF V. 8, WE SEE THE PROPER BALANCE BETWEEN THE FIRST CAUSE OF SALVATION-THE DIVINE PROVISION OF GRACE AND THE RESULT OF THAT SALVATION-OBEDIENCE AND WORKS.

*** AND BELOVED THE BRIDE RECEIVES HER WEDDING DRESS FROM CHRIST, BUT SHE RESPONDS TO THE GIFT BY HER FAITHFULNESS TO HIM.

**** THE BRIDE RECEIVES THE GARMENT AS A GIFT, BUT SHE PUTS IT ON IN RESPONSE TO THE GRACIOUS GIFT.

4. SO THE BRIDE’S WORKS ARE IN VIEW HERE, FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS.

* AND THE SAINTS ARE SANCTIFIED ONES, SAVED PEOPLE. AND THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF BELIEVERS DURING THEIR LIFETIME ON EARTH HAVE BECOME THE GLORIOUS BRIDAL ATTIRE FOR HER WEDDING DAY.

** AND NOW THE BRIDE IS FITTINGLY ADORNED FOR PRESENTATION TO HER BRIDEGROOM IN THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY IN FULFILLMENT OF EPHESIANS 5:25-27 WHERE IT SAYS: (READ EPHESIANS 5:25&26).

*** AND THEN EPHESIANS 5:27 SAYS: “THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT TO HIMSELF THE CHURCH IN ALL HER GLORY, HAVING NO SPOT OR WRINKLE OR ANY SUCH THING; BUT THAT SHE WOULD BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS.”

**** NOW THESE VERSES GIVE US AN INDICATION OF WHOM THE BRIDE IS, WHICH IS NOT IDENTIFIED IN REVELATION 19:7&8, BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE GUESTS INVITED TO THIS MARRIAGE SUPPER AND I WILL TRY TO IDENTIFY THEM IN V. 9 AND EXPRESS IN A GREATER WAY WHO THE BRIDE IS.

5. SO LOOK AT V. 9 PLEASE, WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 3’D POINT TODAY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVITED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER.

III. THE PEOPLE, (READ V. 9)

A. NOW V. 9 BEGINS WITH, THEN HE SAID TO ME. AND THE HE IS MOST LIKELY THE ANGEL THAT ADDRESSES JOHN IN REVELATION 17:1 AND REVELATION 17:15.

* FOR REVELATION 17:1 SAYS: THEN ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO HAD THE SEVEN BOWLS CAME AND SPOKE WITH ME, SAYING, “COME HERE, I WILL SHOW YOU THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT HARLOT WHO SITS ON MANY WATERS.”

** AND THEN REVELATION 17:15 SAYS: AND HE SAID TO ME, “THE WATERS WHICH YOU SAW WHERE THE HARLOT SITS, ARE PEOPLES AND MULTITUDES AND NATIONS AND TONGUES.”

*** NOW REVELATION 19:9 STARTS OUT EXACTLY THE SAME AS REVELATION 17:15, WHICH THERE JOHN DOESN’T IDENTIFY THIS ANGEL FOR HE DOES IN REVELATION 17:1.

**** SO THIS ANGEL IS MOST LIKELY ONE OF THE SEVEN BOWL JUDGMENT ANGELS.

1. AND THIS ANGEL GIVES JOHN A COMMAND TO WRITE. AND THIS IS ONE OF MANY TIMES JOHN IS TOLD TO WRITE DOWN WHAT HE SEES AND HEARS IN HIS VISIONS WHICH WOULD BECOME THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

* AND JOHN MAY HAVE BEEN SO ABSORBED IN THIS HEAVENLY SCENE HE WAS VIEWING THAT HE HAS TO BE TOLD TO PICK UP HIS PEN AGAIN AND WRITE DOWN WHAT HE IS SEEING AND HEARING.

** BUT REGARDLESS OF THE REASON, JOHN IS TOLD TO WRITE THESE WORDS: “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.”

*** AND THIS IS THE 4TH BLESSED OR BEATITUDE OF SEVEN IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

**** AND THE WORD BLESSED LIT. MEANS HOW HAPPY, IT MEANS FULFILLED, JOYOUS AND SATISFIED, AND IT IS THE SAME GREEK WORD USED IN THE BEATITUDES IN MATTHEW 5.

2. AND THE BLESSED ONES HERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.

* NOW OBVIOUSLY THE BRIDE IS NOT INVITED TO HER WEDDING CEREMONY, AND OF COURSE THE BRIDEGROOM CHRIST IS NOT INVITED BUT THE HONORED HUSBAND.

** SO WHO ARE THE PEOPLE INVITED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER?

*** WELL THERE IS A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT WHOM THE INVITED GUESTS ARE AND I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU IT IS THE O.T. SAINTS AND THE TRIBULATION SAINTS.

**** FOR THE N.T. TEACHES THAT THE BRIDE OF CHRIST IS THE CHURCH.

3. NOW WITH THAT SAID, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IN THE O.T. JEHOVAH GOD IS THE BRIDEGROOM OF ISRAEL, AND THAT ISRAEL WAS THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE OF JEHOVAH.

* AND ISRAEL WILL BE RESTORED TO HER POSITION AS A FAITHFUL WIFE AS SHE HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE KINGDOM AND THE NEW JERUSALEM.

** BUT BY CONTRAST, IN THE N.T. THE CHURCH IS PICTURED AS A VIRGIN WAITING FOR THE COMING OF HER BRIDEGROOM FOR II CORINTHIANS 11:2 SAYS AS PAUL IS WRITING TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH, THIS: “FOR I AM JEALOUS FOR YOU WITH A GODLY JEALOUSY; FOR I BETROTHED YOU TO ONE HUSBAND, SO THAT TO CHRIST I MIGHT PRESENT YOU AS A PURE VIRGIN.”

*** AND TO ADD TO THAT, WE’VE ALREADY LOOKED AT EPHESIANS 5:25-27 WHERE THE PICTURE OF THE HUSBAND AND WIFE RELATIONSHIP IS RELATED TO CHRIST’S LOVE FOR THE CHURCH AND HOW HE SANCTIFIES IT AND WILL PRESENT IT TO HIMSELF AS HOLY AND BLAMELESS.

**** BUT AT THE END OF THIS TEXT IN EPHESIANS 5:32 PAUL SAYS: “THIS MYSTERY IS GREAT; BUT I AM SPEAKING WITH REFERENCE TO CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.”

4. AND BELOVED, I’M NOT GOING TO THE WALL ON THIS INTERPRETATION FOR THE TEXT DOES NOT SAY, BUT I COULD SAY A LOT MORE, WHICH I’LL NOT.

* BUT THE MAIN POINT HERE IS THERE ARE INVITED GUESTS TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER AND THESE PEOPLE ARE BLESSED AND HAPPY AS THEY ENJOY SEEING THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM COME TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE.

** NOW ONE LAST THING IN V. 9, THE ANGEL AT THE END OF V. 9 ADDS, “THESE ARE TRUE WORDS OF GOD.”

*** AND THESE WORDS REMIND US THAT WHAT JOHN IS TOLD TO WRITE DOWN ARE THE WORDS OF GOD, THEY ARE INSPIRED WORDS, THIS REVELATION IS DIVINE REVELATION, NOT THE WORDS OF MEN, WHICH REMINDS ME OF SEVERAL TEXTS, READ PROVERBS 30:5&6, II TIMOTHY 3:16&17 AND II PETER 1:20&21 (READ THEM).

**** NOW AGAIN AS WE GO BACK TO REVELATION 19:9, WE ARE REMINDED THAT THESE WORDS JOHN IS WRITING ARE THE WORD OF GOD, THERE IS DIVINE AUTHENTICITY TO THESE WORDS.

5. AND THIS TRUTH AND THE PEOPLE OF V. 9 LEAD US TO OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE PROHIBITION. LOOK AT V. 10 PLEASE.

IV. THE PROHIBITION, (READ V. 10)

A. NOW V. 10 REMINDS US THAT OUR EMOTIONS CAN GET OUT OF CONTROL AND LEAD US TO DO THINGS THAT ARE PROHIBITED IN SCRIPTURE.

* FOR SO GREAT WAS JOHN’S ASTONISHMENT AND EXCITEMENT ABOUT WHAT HE SAW AND HEARD IN REVELATION 19, HE OVER-REACTED.

** OBVIOUSLY HE WAS OVERWHELMED AND OVER-AWED, BUT REGARDLESS OF HOW WELL INTENTIONED JOHN WAS, HE RECEIVES A REBUKE FROM THE ANGEL FOR BOWING DOWN TO WORSHIP HIM.

*** FOR THE ANGEL SAYS: “DO NOT DO THAT;” AND THIS IS A COMMAND FROM THE ANGEL TO STOP FOR THE VERB DO NOT DO THAT IS IN THE IMPERATIVE MOOD.

**** FOR THE ANGEL REMINDS JOHN HE IS A FELLOW- SERVANT OF JOHN’S, IN OTHER WORDS ANGELS ARE MINISTERING SPIRITS AND SERVANTS OF GOD, LIKE US, SERVING GOD FOR HIS GLORY.

1. SO ANGELS ARE FELLOW-SERVANTS NEVER TO BE WORSHIPPED. ONE SERVANT OR SLAVE DOES NOT WORSHIP ANOTHER SERVANT OR SLAVE AND ANGELS ARE FELLOW-SERVANTS OF JOHN AND JOHN’S BRETHREN, CHRISTIANS WHO HOLD TO THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.

* AND PAUL REMINDS US IN COLOSSIANS 2:18 THAT CHRISTIANS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WORSHIP ANGELS WHERE HE SAYS: “LET NO ONE KEEP DEFRAUDING YOU OF YOUR PRIZE BY DELIGHTING IN SELF-ABASEMENT AND THE WORSHIP OF THE ANGELS, TAKING HIS STAND ON VISIONS HE HAS SEEN, INFLATED WITHOUT CAUSE BY HIS FLESHLY MIND.”

** IN LIGHT OF THAT AND THAT ANGELS ARE FELLOW-SERVANTS AS CREATIONS OF GOD, THE ANGEL HERE IN REVELATION 19:10 SAYS, WORSHIP GOD.

*** AND JOHN WILL UNFORTUNATELY DO THIS AGAIN IN REVELATION 22:8 AS DID CORNELIUS WITH PETER IN ACTS 10:25&26 WHERE IT SAYS: (READ THEM).

**** AND BELOVED THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS HOW SAD THAT THE POPE AND OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS RECEIVE VENERATION, ADULATION AND IN ESSENCE WORSHIP. IT IS WRONG AND SINFUL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BOW AND KISS A RING AS WELL AS THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES THIS TREATMENT. AND OF COURSE FALSE RELIGION ALLOWS THESE THINGS AND PARTICIPATES IN THEM.

2. WITH THAT SAID, ONE LAST THING IN V. 10, THE ANGEL SAYS AT THE END OF V. 10, “FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY.”

* AND THAT SIMPLY MEANS THAT CHRIST IS NOT ONLY THE MAJOR THEME OF SCRIPTURE BUT IS ALSO THE CENTRAL THEME OF PROPHECY, WHICH THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS A BOOK OF PROPHECY.

** AND THE SIGNIFICANCE IN THIS TEXT IS THAT THE TRUE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY ALWAYS MANIFESTS ITSELF IN BEARING WITNESS TO JESUS.

*** THE O.T. PROPHETS, THE N.T. PROPHETS, JOHN AND ANGELS, THEY ALL ALIKE BEAR WITNESS TO JESUS AND WORSHIP IS TO BE OFFERED TO GOD ALONE.

IN WRAP UP: (1) 3 QUICK APPLICATIONS.

* NO. 1 WORSHIP GOD ALONE, NOT ANY MAN, NOT ANGELS, ANYONE OR ANYTHING. ONLY GOD IS TO BE WORSHIPPED AND SPECIFICALLY CHRIST IN THIS TEXT.

** NO. 2 IF YOU ARE A TRUE BELIEVER, LOOK FORWARD WITH ANTICIPATION, DELIGHT AND HOPE TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB, FOR IT WILL BE A GLORIOUS WEDDING.

*** AND IF YOU ARE MARRIED, AS YOU LOOKED FORWARD TO YOUR WEDDING DAY AND PLANNED FOR IT AND POSSIBLY EVEN SACRIFICED TO PUT IT TOGETHER, LIVE FOR A FUTURE DAY WITH HOPE AND PURITY, SAVING YOURSELF AND LIVING FOR THE ONE WHO SAVED YOU FROM HIS WRATH.

**** AND NO. 3, FOR TRUE BELIEVERS WHICH ARE SAVED BY GRACE, WORKS ALWAYS FOLLOW. WE CANNOT SEPARATE SALVATION FROM SANCTIFICATION.

(2) BUT WORK NOW FOR THE BRIDEGROOM, THE LAMB OF GOD, OUR SAVIOR, BE ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN HIS WORK, SEEING YOUR LIFE AND WHAT YOU DO AS HIS WORK, APPLY JOHN 9:4 AND I CORINTHIANS 15:58 (READ THEM).

* WORK FOR HIM!

** BUT LASTLY, IF THERE IS NO DESIRE TO WORK AND THERE ARE NO RIGHTEOUS WORKS FOR CHRIST, AND THERE IS NO SANCTIFICATION, IT INDICATES THERE HAS BEEN NO SALVATION.

*** AND YOUR NEED IS TO SEE THAT YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN, AND YOUR NEED IS TO SEE YOUR SIN THAT SEPARATES YOU FROM A HOLY GOD, AND TO SEE YOUR NEED OF THE ONLY SAVIOR WHO DIED FOR SINNERS, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

**** AND IF YOU SEE THOSE THINGS TODAY, I CALL YOU TO TURN FROM YOUR SIN TO CHRIST IN REPENTANT FAITH TO BE SAVED.