The Supper Of The Great God

THE SUPPER OF THE GREAT GOD AND THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB

Revelation 19

This chapter could very well have three different titles. I gave you the first two, but it could also be entitled, "The Four Hallelujahs". This is a very intense chapter with much that is going on. It is the wind down chapter of the great Book of Revelation. This chapter is one of the most encouraging to me. I very well remember, as a student at Tabernacle, hearing Dr. Harold Sightler preach a message entitled "The Four Hallelujahs". It was a very uplifting and a very stirring message on the mighty power of God at work in judging the whore and how "the Lord hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand". Before the message was over, nearly everyone in attendance was shouting and praising the Lord.

This chapter is also great in that it tells about the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is going to be a great day for the redeemed church as we sit at the table as a "glorious church without spot or wrinkle". It will be a time of great reunion of all the brothers and sisters in Christ. Another supper that is given in our Text involves the Battle of Armageddon that is called the supper of the great God. Certainly, for the believer this is a very great chapter of encouragement.

I. HEAVEN’S PRAISE BEFORE THE SECOND COMING. (Vv. 1-10)

Much praise will be taking place just prior to the return of the Lord in glory. This is so because the Lord God Almighty has judged the Great Harlot and is preparing for the last battle before the Lord sets up His earthly kingdom. This is the reason that John heard much people saying, "Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God".

A. The First Alleluias Mentioned. (Vv. 1-3)

The word Alleluia is the Greek form of the word Halleluiah and is not a compound word as some think, but is a single word that means "Praise the Lord". It is also a universal word meaning that it is found in most languages of the world. In Easton’s dictionary, you will find this definition of how the word is used in the Scriptures: Praise ye Jehovah, frequently rendered "Praise ye the LORD," stands at the beginning of ten of the psalms (106,111-113,135,146-150), hence called "hallelujah psalms." From its frequent occurrence it grew into a formula of praise. The Greek form of the word (alleluia) is found in Revelation 19:1,3,4,6.

1. The Alleluia of Victory. (V. 1)

The great number of people in heaven began to praise the Lord because of the righteous punishment of the great whore. The song is praising the Lord for being so merciful in vindicating those who suffered because of her. There are at least four stanzas in the way that this praise song is being sung. There is first the praise involving salvation. Moses even knew that salvation was of the Lord. Jonah knew that "Salvation is of the Lord". (Jonah 2:9). Throughout the Scriptures, the theme is the same, "Salvation is of the Lord". David said when he went up against Goliath that the battle was of the Lord. The three Hebrew children recognized that the Lord was able to deliver them; He was their Salvation.

Next, there is the praise involving the glory that is His. No one is deserving of the glory that belongs to Him. Strong’s definition of glory is: The kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity. This is certainly a definition that fits in describing the work of the Lord during the Great Tribulation. In contrast to the Lord’s work involving the Trinity, we have the work of Satan. His unholy Trinity is flawed in so many ways. Every attempt that Satan made to mimic the Holy One came up pitifully short. Therefore Satan is worthy of no glory- only shame, whereas the Lord is deserving of and will receive the glory that is due His name.

Then there is the honor that is spoken of in the Scriptures and in our Text. The Lord is certainly deserving of the Glory and the honor of that glory. It becomes Him, for He is the altogether lovely One. He is the fairest of ten thousand and the bright and morning star. Every sermon that is preached, every song that is sung, and every miracle that is performed should be done so in His honor.

He is also the powerful One. His power has been demonstrated from the creation on. Every salvation experience is a direct result of His power. His power is without limit. The Alleluias that are being sung here are attributing all of the above mentioned qualities to Him and to Him alone. He has the power to implement His program and to enforce it.