THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB

Revelation 19:1-21

Key Verse 19:9

Introduction: As we look forward to the up and coming Summer Bile Conference entitled “Follow Me,” we should take a pensive look at the final result of those who follow Jesus. We will find in this interesting passage a beautiful “wedding supper” for the righteous. We are encouraged to follow Jesus based on this passage because the end result of our struggle in Christ is so wonderful and lasting.

Read verses 1-3. What major event preceded these verses (See Rev 18)? Describe the reaction of the “great multitudes in heaven” to this event. How was their reaction different from the godless people in the previous passage (Rev 18:10,15-16,19)? What had God done that was so praiseworthy?

The fall of Babylon—this is a figurative name given to the sinful and godless kingdoms of man.

They responded by saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” 

The sinful people of the world cried, “Woe, woe, woe…In one hour she has been brought to ruin.”

God did two things that were praiseworthy:

First, through this event (the fall of Babylon) God had finally “condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries”. It had been a long time that the corrupt world was able to do what it wanted without being made accountable. In this moment God brought the heavy hammer of his total condemnation and thereby unequivocally ended her lasciviousness and perversity. The “world” as started by Cain and his descendants in Genesis 4 was not snuffed out. 

Secondly, God had “avenged” his servants because their blood was shed by the world. We often forget how hostile the world has been to Christians and how many were killed in the persecutions of the Early Church. Thousands upon thousands of Christians were ridiculed and killed on account of their faith. Even today, the innocent blood of believers is spilled at the hands of sinful men. The trend of persecution will rise immensely in the future (Rev 6:9-11, 13:7).

Read verses 4-8. Who are the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders? (cf.  Ezekiel 1, Revelation 4-5) What job do these groups do (4)? Who is the voice that “came out of the throne”? What did the “great multitudes” say in response? What is the “wedding of the Lamb”?

It is difficult to say for certain who exactly the 24 elders are because the Bible doesn’t give us much information about them. What we do know is that they give glory and praise to Jesus constantly. Most of the information we do have comes from Revelation 4:9-11

9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

The book of Ezekiel describes the four living creatures in more detail than John does in Revelation however the wonder of their appearance gives us a clue to the fantastic glory of heaven. (Ezekiel 1:4-8)

4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and wings, 9 and their wings touched one another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.

The job of the 24 elders and 4 living creatures is to give constant glory and praise to God and Jesus. He is worthy of such adoration and these servants give Him the glory constantly.

The voice that came out of the throne is none other than Jesus Christ!

The great multitude said, “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7Let us rejoice and be glad  and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

The wedding of the lamb is the joyful celebration held in heaven for all believers to take part in. It is the time of our complete union to Christ forever more. It is the apex of our struggle in Christ and the moment we all should be looking forward to.

Read verses 9-10.  How can one be “blessed” to be at the “wedding supper of the lamb”? How does this relate to the work of spreading the gospel (Matthew 22:8-10)? Why did the angel add “These are the true words of God.”? Why did John try to worship the angel who showed him these things? What does the expression “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” mean?

We have to be invited to the supper at sometime or another. This invitation comes in the form of an invitation to accept Jesus and to “follow” him as his disciple.

The gospel work ultimately is to invite people to this wedding supper and have a relationship with Jesus. This event is the culmination of our struggle to know Jesus and bring people to Him.

Since these are the “true Words of God” we can put our faith in them and know for certain that the event mentioned here is true indeed. Even though we don’t see it clearly this event (the Wedding Supper of the Lamb) will be worth all our struggles.

John tried to worship the angel because the message was so glorious and the revelation so amazing that he mistook who he should worship. Sometimes, people are so awestruck by the message of the kingdom that they idolize the messenger instead of realizing that Jesus is the root of the message. It seems if John could make the mistake anyone could.

Everything that John saw was about Jesus and was supposed to lead to Jesus. Prophecy is amazing but the point is to know Christ.

Read verses 11-16. Describe the appearance of the rider on the white horse? What is the importance of all his names? In this passage what are the “armies of heaven” doing? What is the purpose of his mission? 

The appearance of the rider on the white horse was: His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. His appearance is very powerful and it reveals his intentions of fighting and winning against his enemies.

Faithful and True — He is perfect and righteous. 

He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself — He is God.

Word of God — He has complete lasting authority.

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS — He rules over all Kings (both good and bad) and over all Lords (both good and bad). There is no dominion that he doesn’t control.

The “armies of heaven” are following him on white horses of their own. These armies are the same multitude at the beginning of this chapter who are clothed in fine linen both white and clean. All believers will be in this army following Jesus!

 The purpose of this mission is to clear out the enemies of God forever and purge the world of all the evildoers. This is not a subtle mission but a battle to seal complete domination over the devil and those who follow him.

5. Read verses 17-18. Describe the “supper” mentioned here? Who participated as the eater? What types of people were given over to them? What are the differences between the two “suppers” mentioned in this passage?

The “ great supper of God” mentioned her is the terrifying end of all those who follow the devil and subscribe to the ways of this world. It is not a joyful supper like that in heaven but the terrible end to an already terrible life. Those who receive this end truly deserve it for their rejection of the gospel, their love of sin, and their persecution of God’s servants.

The birds of the air acted as the dinner guests.

The differences are like day and night. There is nothing similar except that both are just rewards for two different ways of life.

Read verses 19-21. Who made “war against the rider on the white horse and his army? Who was “captured”? What happened to them? What is the importance of the rider on the white horse completing the victory?

Still the people of the earth think they can withstand and resist Jesus when he comes in his power and glory. Still they are fighting against him and rejecting him—all to their own ill fate.

The “beast” was captured along with the “false-prophet”. These two are the main promoters of evil in the last days. They were empowered by Satan and given over to do his will.

These two were instantly judged and thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Finally, the enemies of God are put down and their final end comes while the servants of God enjoy their an eternity with Jesus.

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