Rejoicing In Heaven

Rejoicing in Heaven

Revelation 19:1-8

Introduction

- Share something on my heart this week:

-- “My prayer is that God will send faithful men and women to our church to work for His glory in reaching people for Christ.”

-- To work, we must be trained, which means faithfulness to study & prepare

-- APP: This is where our “walk” becomes tangible to those around us

- We’ve examined all of Ch. 18 with the collapse of the economic system

-- God’s judgment is final an brutal; complete and total annihilation

- Today we begin Chapter 19 which concludes the tribulation period

-- Leads us to the final battle between the armies of Satan and Christ

-- This time will only happen at the end of the Tribulation

-- It must be fulfilled to show Christ’s ultimate authority

- The application to the church is: to ensure that we are prepared

-- To be qualified (able) to teach others what the bible says

-- IMP: this is NOT the time to shy away from our responsibilities

- We can easily read this and say, “Oh great, its worship in heaven …”

-- And in that, we can TOTALLY MISS what God is saying to us

-- Stick with me, and I assure you you’ll see how it all comes full circle

- Read Revelation 19:1-8

Ω Point 1 – Celebration in Heaven (1-3)

- John is hearing the shouting of the great multitude

-- The voices of all those who have given their lives during the Tribulation

-- This shouting is one of triumphant readiness: they are prepared to do battle with Satan on behalf of Jesus Christ

- They are also cheering the destruction of Babylon

-- The root of this city was the cause for their death

-- Martyred for their faith because they dared to oppose the anti-Christ

- The great harlot represented the religious system that was setup by Satan

-- Her destruction is a time of rejoicing for those in Heaven

-- Her actions will be avenged by God and the smoke of the destruction of Babylon will be instantaneous – but the smoke of those who were destroyed (this is punishment) is still yet to come.

- Those that lived in Babylon were killed b/c they were loyal to Satan

-- Their final destruction will be at The Great White Throne (Rev 20)

- (v4) The 24 elders from Revelation 4 worshipping at the throne

-- This is the representation of the church; those who served Christ in life

-- They are celebrating the majesty of Jesus Christ; act in eternal worship

- This is where all those who were raptured from the Earth will be

-- Those that were faithful will be at the Throne for all eternity

-- This worship is what it happening now, and will continue forever …

- TRANS: This is what we wait for – this is what we need to focus on

Ω Point 2 - The Throne (v5)

- Pay special attention to the voice from the Throne

-- This is voice of the One we worship today. This is Jesus Christ!!

-- He is leading the worship of the Father. Can you imagine that service?

-- Imagine attending a worship service and Jesus is the worship leader!!

- Heaven exalts the Father, not ourselves (this is the litmus test for reality)

-- Today there is praise going on around the Throne and toward the Father in Heaven – can you imagine it?

-- Can you picture the revelation of your loved ones who have gone before us waiting to show this to you?

- If ever there was a reason to finish the race, this worship service is it

-- It is what we wait for … it is the reward for our faithfulness

-- We have got to get serious about this life and the calling to show others

-- APP: If we are not willing to do this, how can we claim Him as Lord?

Ω Point 3 – The Marriage of the Lamb (6-8)

- The Lamb is the suffering Messiah who died as a sacrifice for you and I

- (v6) What’s happening? King Jesus is celebrating with His bride!

-- This is the church and those who are faithful to follow Him

-- This bride is the entire church – from Adam to Revelation

-- Each who has lived his/her life in obedience to Christ is part of the Bride

- I want you to take away that you are part of the bride (IF you are His …)

-- BUT, the revealing of the Bridegroom has not yet happened

- We believe because we have not seen, and because of that we are blessed

-- John 20:29, “Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."