The Marriage Of The Lamb Series

Revelation 19:7-10

Purpose: To describe the blessed eternal union of all believers with Christ.

Aim: I want the listener to rejoice in God’s grace.

INTRODUCTION: In the first six verses of this chapter we see a heavenly vision of the awesome power and glory of God. He is the ultimate and undisputed ruler of His own creation. In our text today we see that this all powerful God will forever join Himself with sinners He has washed pure in the blood of Christ.

"In normal [ways of speaking] the wedding is spoken of as the marriage of the bride, but here it is the marriage of the Lamb." [1] Normally the bride is the center of attention, but here the groom is the center of attention and rightly so. Jesus is the one who made the wedding possible. Christ is the one who purchased His bride with His own blood. Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (NAU)

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. (NAU)

REVIEW:

1:1-20 I. John’s Vision of the Past "the things which you have seen"

2:1-5:14 II. Christ’s Vision of the Present "the things which are"

Ch.6-22 III. John’s Vision of the Future "things which will take places"

6-7; 12-14 A. Satan’s war against God’s creation: the first six seals

8-11; 13:11-18; 15-18 B. The wrath of God: the seventh seal

Ch.19-20 C. The worship of God

19:1 1. A description of worship "salvation...glory...power"

19:2-6 2. Four reasons to worship God

Vs.2 a. God brings holiness to the earth "true and righteous"

Vs.3 b. God’s holiness is eternal "forever and forever"

Vs.4-5 c. God loves without partiality "small and the great"

Vs.6 d. God rules "the Almighty, reigns"

LESSON:

19:7-10 3. The Believer’s eternal union with Christ

Vs.7 a. The church is prepared to meet Christ "made herself ready"

Jewish weddings as a picture of our salvation

Jewish weddings are divided into four stages. Each stage illustrates our relationship to Christ.

#1 Engagement

This is like our present day engagements except they are legally binding. For example, when Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant he "... planned to send her away secretly" (Matthew 1:19 NAU) because they were legally married even though the marriage ceremony hadn’t happened yet.

Our marriage ceremony to Christ hasn’t happened yet, but we are already legally owned by Christ. Notice how Paul explains this truth: Ephesians 1:4-5 just as He chose us [present tense] in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be [future tense] holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, (NAU) Ephesians 1:11-12 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. (NAU)

#2 Payment

The groom would then give a dowry (a gift) to the bride’s father in order to seal the marriage agreement. God, sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. (2 Corinthians 1:22NAU)

Jesus offered His own blood in payment for our sin so that we could be His eternal bride. Hebrews 10:19-20 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, (NAU)

#3 Procession

Then the groom dressed in his best clothes and accompanied by his best friends, leaves home to go get his bride. Psalm 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty, (NAU)

Psalm 93:1 The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength .... (NAU)

Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels ... (NAU)

He then escorts her back to the home he has prepared for her. John 14:2-3 "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. (NAU)