Day: June 12, 2006

THE GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD

/ Tim A. / 3 Comments

THE GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD

Revelation 19:1-21

THE GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD, will only be glorious for those who are in Christ. As we look at our world today and as judgments come in their various ways, it is only a foretaste of His ultimate judgment. When God begins to move the sinful and defiled will not stand, but only those who love Jesus Christ will stand.And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 19:1-5 (KJV).

“After these things” is certainly speaking of the previous two chapters. The “great whore” was judged by God through the godless. The “great city” was judged by plagues from God.
Remembering the “great whore” represents false religion that basically accepts all beliefs as being legitimate, its fall and the rejoicing of the kings show us that we must stand for truth.
In these first five verses we find Heaven rejoicing (18:20). The “voice” of verses 1 and 5 cannot be the voice of God, according to some. But why not? God does command our worship of Him. There is a possibility that it is that of an angel.
These are rejoicing in the justice and judgment upon world evil and those who tortured and tormented the saints of God.
If you will, notice verse 3. The judgment upon the woman, both as religious, and political/economic Babylon is judged forever – eternally. This could not be speaking of a physical – material city, but of the wicked souls of men who ruled the city. See Isaiah 66:24. Their smoke of torment will rise up forever and ever.
Back around the throne of God again, we find the twenty four elders and the four Living ones worshipping the One who sat on the throne.
Who else could these ‘elders’ be other than the Church – the redeemed by the cross of Jesus Christ? We see them in chapters 4; 5:14; 7:11; 11:16-18, and then once again in this passage. Every time we find the ‘twenty four elders’ mentioned we see that they are in Heaven before the throne of God in worship of Him who sits on the throne.

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. vv. 6-10 (KJV).

We come now to what is called the “Marriage supper of the Lamb”. It is correctly called this in the fourth beatitude of the Revelation.
It matters not whose voice is heard in verse 6. It only matters that it is heavenly.
He is calling out invitation to the ‘marriage supper of the Lamb’ for the marriage has already taken place. The Hebrew wedding – to my understanding – has three major aspects:
1. There is a marriage contract drawn up between the parents of the children, while the ones who become betrothed are still children;
2. At a suitable age the bridegroom along with his friends would go to the brides home to take her to his home (Matthew 25:1-13);
3. He would bring her to his home for the marriage supper, to which guests were invited.
The marriage supper of the Lamb precedes the “Day of the LORD”, earth’s blackest, bleakest and most horrible day, yet heaven’s day of rejoicing when evil will be removed from God’s presence.
The Lamb’s wife has made herself ready at the “Judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10) where all the “wood, hay and stubble” (1 Cor. 3:11-15) of every Christian life will be burned up and only the “gold, silver, and precious stones” will remain. Of course, preparation began when each individual is justified (made right with God) by faith (Eph. 2:8-10; 5:25-27).
The beatitude of verse 9 is also a great invitation to people of all ages. “Blessed (Happy) are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb”. Will you be at the marriage supper of the Lamb? By faith in Jesus Christ, becoming wed to Him by the covenant of grace through faith you will be. The marriage supper of the Lamb will be the time of consummation or glorification of the Bride [the saints, the Church].
“These are true sayings of God”. Can God say anything that is not true? Can God lie? Not hardly (Rom. 3:4). Truly the most blessed place to be is at the marriage supper of the Lamb. There is no earthly activity which can compare to the glory of this marriage supper.
The voice spoken of earlier certainly cannot be divine. John falls before the one speaking in worship only to be rebuked, and corrected to worship God. All Scripture is centered in Jesus Christ. However, the whole intent of prophecy is to testify of Jesus. All the prophecies, before He came as man, are proof of who He is. Just as surely as the Old Testament prophecies testified of His first coming and were fulfilled, so too, will each unfulfilled Old and New Testament prophecy which testifies of His second coming be fulfilled. The prophecies of Jesus are the means of identifying Him.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 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. 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 them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may 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. 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. 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. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. vv. 11-21 (KJV).

The term “heaven opened” is used only once in the Revelation. It is, however, used three other times in the New Testament; in Matthew 3:16; John 1:51; and Acts 7:56. In each case it is a very special and glorious event.
At heaven’s opening here we see a great army being led by none other that the glorified, risen Jesus Christ. This is not the same horse nor rider that is mentioned in 6:2-3. The first rider went out to conquer with the deceit of false peace. This second white horse rider goes out to conquer and to put an end to every evil man and deed.
He is given several names in these verses.
1. “Faithful and True”, thus fitting with the final sentence of verse nine (v. 11);
2. One name that “no man knew”, but He Himself (v. 12);
3. “The Word of God” – identifying Him as the One John earlier spoke of in John 1:1-5, 14 (v. 13).
4. “King of kings and Lord of lords” (v. 16), for truly all kings will bow before Him and, the devil, that is, satan, the liar will bow before Him as Lord.
The “second coming” of Jesus will be to make war, not peace. War against His enemies who have rejected, neglected, and blasphemed His every attempt for redemption. War against those who considered their way better. War against those who despised His written Word. he will put them down by the Word of His mouth (2 Thes. 2:8).
Let us look now at the description of His appearance (vv. 12-16).
1. “Eyes…as a flame of fire”. They are piercing, looking, judging righteous judgment. Surely, He would have been righteous in His judgment even had He chosen to redeem no one;
2. “On His head many crowns” – Could this be the crowns awarded the saints at the ‘judgment seat of Christ’? Awards the saints received only to lay them at the feet of Jesus recognizing Him as the One worthy of the crowns;
3. “A name, no man knew”;
4. “A vesture [robe] dipped in blood” – This is not His blood, but the blood of those who were trampled beneath His feet. If our sins are not paid for with the blood of Christ, then our own blood will be required to pay the eternal debt.
5. “His name the Word of God” – This identifies Him as our Creator (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16) and as the One who gave His life for sinful man.
The “armies of Heaven” would probably include the angels of God as well as the Bride of Christ. Notice the reference back to verse 8, “fine linen, white and clean”. Verse8 says, “…the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints”. Certainly, then, the ‘army’ includes the saints at least.
He puts down the nations with His Word. We can find reference to verse 15 of Psalm 2:9, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel”. His love, mercy and grace has been extended over millenials of time. Now His ultimate wrath is poured out. The end of the reign of man has come and Jesus Christ shall reign forever more.
Because of the carnage vultures are called to the scene. In the Old Testament it was a sign of divine jugment when corpses’s of the dead were eaten by the feasts of the field. For example read about Jezebel’s death in 1 Kings 21:23; 2 Kings 9:30-37. As a contrast to the above read about the prophet in 1 Kings 13, and pay special attention to verses 23-25.
Needless to say the vultures, at man’s war witht he glorified Jesus, have the feast of a lifetime.
The nations of earth could not keep their own “peace accords” and through this God in His sovereignty calls them to “Armageddon” (16:16) where they fight one another only to suddenly be confronted by the Son of God. Confronted by Him sitting on the ‘white horse’ they unite against Him recognizing a common enemy, only to be slain and fed to the vultures by the Lamb of God.
The beast (13:4) and the false prophet (13:11) are cast into “a lake of fire burning with brimstone”. The smoke of their torment ascending day and night forever. The rest are slain by “Him that sat upon the horse”, and the “fowls were filled with their flesh”.

In conclusion, if this is the end of man’s anarchy against God, and his Word what will be your destiny? Will you be in the blessing of His presence on THE GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD? Will you be at the marriage supper of the Lamb, and riding with Him when He comes with His saints, and in wrath upon His enemies?
WOE TO THOSE WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN HIS WRATH.

THE HAPPINESS OF THE REVELATION (4)

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

THE HAPPY FEASTERS

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev 19:6-10 (KJV).

We Americans, and especially Baptist Americans like our food. We love a feast. We love to feast too much, in that many people are overweight, or think they are, and yet we continue to take much delight in feasting. It seems that everyone would want to follow God’s way to Heaven and enjoy the feast He is preparing for us. Millions of dollars are spent annually on diets and in fitness centers, while few think of becoming spiritually fit.
There is a feast awaiting the true followers of Jesus that will not cause us to grow weighty; which will not cause us to be lazy, but will be a feast with a table spread in the glories and wonder of our Lord and Savior. It will be a feast of celebration; a celebration of the joining together of the Bridegroom with His Bride.
Each one who has been called and chosen individually will be joined together as the Bride in unity with herself, and the Savior. Everyone who is a part of this joyous celebration will truly be “The Happy Feasters”.

These mentioned, are THE HAPPY FEASTERS because, THEY ARE PREPARED FOR THE FEAST INDIVIDUALLY. It is written, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Cor 5:10(KJV).
WE ARE BROUGHT INTO COMPLETE HARMONY WITH CHRIST AT HIS JUDGMENT SEAT. This seat is not the “Great White throne judgment” it is judgment only for those who are disciples of Christ. Those who were caught up with Him in the air. This is the place of rewards given or lost, because of the works we have done, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” 1 Cor 3:11-15 (KJV).
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BELIEVERS WILL BE SETTLED ONCE AND FOR ALL TIME. All the arguments and disagreements between believers while we were in our earthly bodies will fade into nothingness, and Jesus will be glorified. The answers to “Calvinism” and “Free will” will be answered. No more debate about it; all will see that God is Sovereign over all.
OUR POSITION OF SERVICE FOR CHRIST IN HIS KINGDOM WILL BE DETERMINED. There will be no disputes about who does what, or who has the most responsibility or least responsibility. There will be no gloating over one’s position. Each of us will fully realize how merciful and gracious God the Father and God the Son are and will just rejoice in the fact of our presence in His presence.

These are also THE HAPPY FEASTERS because, ALL BELIEVERS, AS THE BRIDE ARE IN UNITY WITH CHRIST. It is written, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 2 Cor 11:2 (KJV). Again Paul writes, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph 5:25-27 (KJV).
THERE WILL BE NO QUARRELLING OR FIGHTING WITH JESUS. There will be a wondrous love and praise and worship, and admiration which shall never fade away. We will not be fussing with Him or one another about the food that is on the banquet table. Eat to your heart’s content, and do not worry about getting overweight. Enjoy the presence of Jesus, and the peace and comfort He gives.
Another thing as the bride in unity with Christ, THERE WILL BE TOTAL SUBMISSION WITH THE BRIDEGROOM. Jesus is the Bridegroom. He is always right and we will be under His tutelage and care.
It is also wonderful to know that, THERE WILL BE NOTHING TO SEPARATE US FROM JESUS ANY LONGER. He presents the bride [the Church] “to Himself a glorious Church…”. How did we become “Glorious”? The answer for that is simple. Because of His glorious grace, the washing of water by the Word, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

They are THE HAPPY FEASTERS, because THERE WILL BE PERFECT HARMONY. It is written in God’s Word, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” Eph 4:13 (KJV). Now part of this is done while we are in our fleshly bodies. It is done while we attend Bible studies, morning worship, evening worship, Wednesday night prayer meetings, any prayer service, and as we go about our daily lives being faithful to His call and direction in our lives.
To say it once again, but it is needed that we remember it; ALL ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE POSITION WE RECEIVE. The only head in Christ’s kingdom is Jesus Christ and the Father. We will receive our positions, most likely, according to how we served while on earth.
One great thing about this harmony will be that, we ALL WILL BE CLEAN AND WHITE cleansed by the blood of the Lamb – Jesus Christ. O, what a wonderful cleansing that will be. O, what a wonderful cleansing it already is. Glory to God.
In perfect harmony with Jesus and one another ALL WILL HAVE EQUAL KNOWLEDGE OF LIVING WITH HIM FOR ALL ETERNITY. All who are with Christ Jesus will know all there is for us to know. We will know the Father as we have never known Him before. We will know Jesus – the Son – in all His glory. We will know the power of the Holy Spirit and bask in His glory for the Son. The knowledge we will have then, would probably, overwhelm us in our present state. I am sometimes overwhelmed by the knowledge you can find on the internet, and some of that is certainly not worth knowing. O, the things of God, Jesus, and of Heaven and eternal glory are deffinitely worth knowing.

One final reason they will be THE HAPPY FEASTERS is because, WE ARE JOINED TOGETHER NEVER TO PART. “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matt 19:5-6 (KJV). It was the plan of God that when a man and woman marries they were to be together , as husband and wife forever.
The husband, HAVING PUT BEHIND HIM ALL EARTHLY CONNECTIONS will enjoy his wife and love her over his mother and father. When we come to Christ Jesus we leave all things, family ties, and all to follow and serve Him. This does not mean we give up family ties, but they are of less importance to us. Jesus is our All in all. We are the bride and He is the Groom, and the love we have for Him will be more than any earthly tie can bring forth. Men, you do not need fear all this is as pure as Heaven, God and His Son are pure. It will be a holy relationship and fellowship in His presence.
In this relationship DIVORCE WILL BE COMPLETELY OUT OF THE PICTURE. There will be no separation in glory. All will be well in all His glory.
THE HAPPY FEASTERS will experience DEATH AND SORROW NO MORE. We will have put off the old flesh and by Christ Jesus all things will be new. No more death. No more sorrow. Those things will have to flee. There will only be eternity basking in the glory of God’s eternal love and grace.
For THE HAPPY FEASTERS, there will be no disappointments. DISAPPOINTMENT WILL NEVER BE EXPERIENCED IN GLORY. How could we be disappointed with Jesus? There will be no discouragement. How could we be discouraged when Jesus has conquered all things and they are “Under His feet”?

In conclusion, let me say, that, I find it fascinating and wonderful, that the Lord placed this “Beatitude” here in the Revelation. He has a time and reason for all that He does. We must rejoice in that and join Him in whatever He does; where that is possible.
We can have our feasts while here on earth, and greatly enjoy them, but there will never be a feast that compares to the MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. Will you be there?
By faith, call on the name of the Lord Jesus for salvation.
Preparation for that glorious feast begins today. If you have heard the message of salvation by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is calling you, now. Hear Him and obey. Do it today.