Rejoice! Preparing for the Marriage Supper of Rev. 19:1-10

SPEAKER 02 : 0:00

What an admonition for all of us as we’ve been studying prophecy, thinking about all these interesting things. I just wonder, you do know, don’t you, that the real spirit, the real heart and soul of what prophecy is all about is the testimony concerning Jesus. It’s the record about Jesus. What prophecy is all about is Jesus. Don’t miss it.

SPEAKER 1 : 0:39

Thank you.

SPEAKER 03 : 0:47

When we study prophecy, it’s easy to get caught up in timelines, symbols, and the mystery of what’s ahead. But you know something? All of these things point to one person, Jesus Christ. In Revelation 19, verses 1 to 10, Bible teacher David Hawking is helping us see the moment heaven rejoices, the marriage of the Lamb, the triumph of the Savior, and the glory that belongs to Him alone. And today, as we go back to this passage, we’ll be further reminded why every promise of prophecy finds its fulfillment in Jesus alone. We’ll get into day three of The Marriage of the Lamb in just a moment. Stay right there. Before we begin, you’re invited to visit the homepage of our website, davidhawking.org. When you go there, you’re going to find several free downloadable books that will help you grow in your walk with Jesus Christ. Now, titles include What is Christianity? by David Hawking. And we also have several books by Hope for Today friend Richard A. Bennett, including Food for Faith, Your Quest for God, and Does God Truly Love Me?, Each one of these books filled with solid biblical teaching and encouragement for your daily life. And again, they’re completely free. You don’t have to sign up for anything. Click on the link, download it. You got it. And you can share it with as many folks as you like. And a number of the books are in multiple languages. Again, visit DavidHawking.org and start reading today. Well, now it’s time to get back into Revelation chapter 19, verses 1 through 10. And here’s David with day three of The Marriage of the Lamb.

SPEAKER 02 : 2:33

And after these things, I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying, Hallelujah! salvation and glory and honor and power unto the Lord our God. For true and righteous are his judgments. For he had judged the great whore who did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Hallelujah! And her smoke rose up forever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God that sat on the throne saying, Amen! Hallelujah! 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. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty peals of thunder, or thunderclaps, saying, Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 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. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they who are called unto the married supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not. I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. We mentioned that there are three things here in the praise of God that’s proclaimed in heaven. We talked a little bit about the multitude who gives this praise and the motivation they would have behind that praise. But look at the message of praise. Did you see it? Maybe you skipped over it quickly. It’s in verse 1. It has four parts. The praise involves the salvation that belongs to the Lord that only he can give, the glory that he alone possesses, And we praise God for the honor which he alone should receive. That’s very, very clear. Praise our God. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. Honor unto the Lord our God. Now, it’s interesting to me how often the Bible deals with this. And I’m really sorry for those of you who have a new American Standard or a new international. that leaves this word out unnecessarily. The word honor belongs there, and that word is used frequently of our praise to the Lord. If you’d back up, please, to chapter 4, let me just give you a quick look at that. That’s seen in heaven again of the 24 elders. Look at verse 9. We have the four beasts. They give glory and what? Honor. Yes, it is consistent in the book of Revelation. Glory and honor. I expect it to be a valid choice there in Revelation chapter 19. I would expect to see it. Look at verse 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor. Honor, there it is again. In chapter seven, verse 12, the great Gentile multitude that saved out of the tribulation. They say, amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power might be unto our God forever and ever, amen. The point I want you to see here reading all these passages is the praise of heaven is frequently stated in the book of Revelation. There’s a consistent pattern here. Salvation, glory, honor, it’s wonderful. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1, 17, Now unto the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. This is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. Honor. You know, the Bible says in Romans 13 to give honor to whom honor is due. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2 that we are to honor the kings. We honor the King of kings and Lord of lords like no other. We honor him. But we praise God for a fourth thing in chapter 19. We praise him for the salvation. That belongs only to him, that only he can bring. We praise him for the glory that he alone possesses and deserves. We praise him for the honor that he alone should receive. We praise him also for the power which he has. Salvation and glory and honor and power under the Lord our God. Well, on this theme, it’s hard to know where to start and where to end. Like chapter 4, verse 11, back in heaven again, it says, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and… Power. And here the power is described. For thou hast created all things. And for thy pleasure they are and were created. Now I can look at the stars. I can look at the mountains. I can look at the flowers. And I can see God’s creative hand. And I know God’s power did it. But I will know then that he really did it. No, I believe he did it. Don’t misunderstand. But I’ll know then that he really did it. Like the centurion who said, Lord, I believe, but help thou mine unbelief. Jesus honored that man’s humility and honesty. Paul said, I’m persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities and powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen, Christians. Aren’t you glad you know a Lord like that? No wonder all heaven’s praise in him. Well, let’s come back to chapter 19. Look at verse 7. The preparation of the bride is announced here in verses 7 to 9. The preparation of the bride. And I’d like to draw four things to your attention here. One, look at the instruction that is given. Don’t miss it. When you start reading these verses, we often jump to the issues about the marriage supper and miss the opening instruction. What’s the opening instruction? It says, let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him. Because the marriage of the Lamb has come. Let us be glad is a simple word. But the next one, rejoice, the Greek word agaliao, means to jump for joy. We’re talking somebody going bonkers here. Let’s be glad and jump for joy and give honor to him. Why? The marriage of the Lamb has come. The thing we’ve been looking forward, it’s here. Right here, Revelation 19. It’s coming soon. Well, there’s a lot in the Bible about this marriage supper, more than maybe meets the eye. Verse 9 says, Blessed are they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The marriage and the supper are the same. Now that, if you’re Jewish, brings a lot of clarification. I’ll tell you why. A marriage supper in a Jewish wedding is only held at the end of the betrothal. It is always held at the bride’s home, not the bridegroom’s home. So if you ask me, David, where will the marriage supper be? If I just looked at the sequence of events in Revelation, I’d have to say, well, it looks to me like it’s at the end of the tribulation period, doesn’t it to you? We’re in chapter 19 now. We’ve already finished up the seven last plagues, seen the destruction of Babylon the Great. We’re at the end of the tribulation getting ready to set up the kingdom of God. And that thousand-year reign is going to be mentioned in chapter 20. So even from a sequential point of view, I’d have to say the supper is after the tribulation. But the fact that it’s a supper tells me a great deal because it has to be at the bride’s home, not the bridegroom’s home. In a Jewish wedding, when you announce your betrothal, your engagement, that’s always announced at the bridegroom’s home. The bride goes with her fiance and they go to the bridegroom’s parents’ home and there they announce the betrothal, which usually is a one-year period of time. At the end of the betrothal, you have the great marriage supper, which, by the way, can be a seven-day feast. a real celebration. And that is always at the bride’s home. So where’s the supper going to be? Well, it’s going to be after the tribulation, and it’s going to be on earth, not in heaven, as a lot of people have taught. It’s not at the bridegroom’s home. It’s at the bride’s home. And by the way, there’s some very important things here as to why it has to be on earth and not in heaven, as a lot of people teach. Because like Matthew 8, 11, it says that we’re going to sit down in the kingdom of God with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In John chapter 3, when we have the discussion of the bridegroom coming and the issue of John the Baptist and who he is, he said, I’m merely a friend, an attendant of the bride. I’ll rejoice, however, when that wedding takes place. You see, the Old Testament saints represented by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and also by John the Baptist, the last of the prophets, they are not the bride. They are the attendants watching the whole thing, but they’re going to be there at the marriage supper. Hmm. Well, that should make sense to us. Why? Because the Old Testament saints are not resurrected until the end of the tribulation. Daniel chapter 12, 1 to 3 tells us so. So here we got the Old Testament saints being resurrected at the end of the tribulation when Christ comes out of heaven with all of his saints with him. So the church age believers represented by the 24 elders, they’ve been in heaven all during the tribulation. Now they’re coming to the earth with Christ. He’s bringing his bride where? To the bride’s home to have the marriage supper and all the Old Testament saints will be there as well. So the instruction, let’s be glad, rejoice, give honor to him. It’s come, it’s here. Now, a second issue here would be the importance of the bride’s apparel. I guess everybody who studies this thinks that. Verse 8, to her it was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. Some texts say righteous acts. Actually, there’s a lot of Greek forms of the word for righteousness or justification. Dikao is a verb in Greek that has a lot of different forms. Dikaiomata. is what is here. And it’s even translated judgments. For instance, go back to chapter 15 and look at verse 4. It says, the last phrase, for thy judgments are made manifest. And the Greek word for judgments in Revelation 15, 4 is exactly the same as translated righteousness or righteous acts in chapter 19, verse 8. It’s kind of an interesting situation. Turn to Luke chapter 1, verse 6. Concerning the parents of John the Baptist, Zacharias and Elizabeth, verse 6, they were both righteous, and that’s the same form of the word, not a variant form, the same form of the word that’s in Revelation 19. I’m pointing this out to you because there’s a liberalism that teaches that it’s our acts and our performance that really gets us into the married supper. No, it’s not. But I can see why people think that. They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. So that word righteous in Luke 1, 6 is the same as Revelation 19 and verse 8. Is it saying that when we do right, like we live right, that that’s the key as to why we’re invited to the marriage supper? Fine linen, clean, and white. Turn to Revelation chapter 3. In the message to the church at Sardis, look at verse 4 and 5. It says, Thou hast a few names even in Sardis that have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in what? White, for they are worthy. Uh-oh, here it looks like another one. Now it’s based on worthiness. Verse 5, he that overcometh. Now the overcomer, according to John in 1 John 5, 4, is he who believes that Jesus is the Christ. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in what? White raiment. Look at chapter 4, verse 4. When you look at the 24 elders sitting on their thrones in chapter 4, verse 4, it says they were clothed in what kind of raiment? White raiment. Look at chapter 6, verse 11. The martyred souls under the altar. Chapter 6, verse 11. It says, and white robes were given unto every one of them. Look at chapter 7, please, verse 14. Here’s the multitude that come out of the tribulation. And he said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. He said to me, These are they who came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in their human performance and good works. Is that what it says? Made them white how? in the blood of the Lamb. You see, the Bible does clear it up if you’re just patient and walk through it. How do you have on the right wedding garment to be at that marriage supper of the what? Lamb. Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. The only garment you can have is a white one that hasn’t been designed by human hands, but was washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s the only way you’ll be acceptable. Well, There’s an invitation here to this supper in chapter 19. Blessed are they who are called unto the married supper of the Lamb. You’ve got to have an invitation. You’re not going to sneak in. Matthew 22, Jesus gave us a parable about a man who tried to sneak in, didn’t have a wedding garment on. We threw him out. Blessed are those who are called. This is the fourth beatitude, by the way. There are seven of them in the book. This is the fourth one. First one was in chapter 1, verse 3. Blessed are they who read this. Second one was in chapter 14, verse 13. Blessed are they who die in the Lord. They’ll rest from their labors. And the third one was in chapter 16, verse 15. Blessed are they who watch and keep their garments. lest they walk naked and be ashamed. This is the fourth one. Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Romans 1, 6, writing to the Christians in Rome, Paul said, you are the called in Christ Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 1, 9, he speaks about being called into the fellowship of his son. Ephesians 4, 1, walk worthy of the calling which you have received. Well, who’s doing the inviting here? Go back to Revelation 3, verse 20. Behold, Jesus said, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him and will what with him? What does it say? Supper. Dine. Married supper of the Lamb. You’ve got to be invited. Blessed are they who are called. You’re going to fellowship with Christ. How? When you respond to his invitation. If any man hear my voice and open the door. The impact of all this upon us is stated at the end of verse 9 when he said, these are the true sayings of God. Boy, what an important timing for that remark. These are the true sayings of God. If you think there’s another way, if you think there’s some other issue here, you’re crazy. These are the true sayings of God. This is how it’s going to happen. We mentioned how the praise of God is proclaimed in heaven, the opening six verses, and the preparation of the bride is announced in verses 7 to 9. And here the purpose of the believer is revealed in verse 10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. He said unto me, See thou do it not. I am thy fellow servant of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. What’s my purpose? to worship God, number one. Number two, to exalt Jesus Christ. Let’s pray. Father in heaven, we thank you for your wonderful word and for the reminders to us again of what the praise of heaven will be all about, how we’ll be there rejoicing with the saints of all the ages. What a glorious day it’s going to be. And Lord, for those listening right now who are not sure of their own relationship to you through Jesus Christ, help them to understand clearly that there is no other way we must be washed in the blood of the Lamb. It was Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. Our sins must be paid for. It was Jesus who rose again, now glorified, one day going to return. Lord, I pray that you’d help us to understand that, that the garment we need is a garment washed in the blood of the Lamb. that the one doing the inviting is our Lord Jesus, who stands at the door and knocks. And if we hear His voice and open the door, He said, I will come in. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

SPEAKER 01 : 20:06

How about you? You’re listening today. Do you really have peace in your heart that you’ve been born again of the Spirit of God? that you’re headed for heaven and not hell. Boy, I can’t think of something more important than that. And if you’re not sure, Give us a call and ask for help. We have free stuff to help you really understand what it means to know the Lord and be assured of it.

SPEAKER 03 : 20:40

God bless. And friend, if you’d like to know more about a true relationship with Jesus Christ according to the Bible, we’d love to send you a booklet called What Is Christianity? by David Hawking and a Bible study by Mail. Now, these are yours if you don’t yet know Christ. You’re not yet a Christian, but you’re curious. Or perhaps if you’re a new believer, you’ve just come to Christ, they’re for you as well. And you can request them at davidhawking.org, davidhawking.org. Or call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. Or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And Bible by the numbers 24253. Well, this is Hope for Today with David Hawking. And David’s back in just a moment or two with his final comments on today’s study. So do stay with us. And just before David returns, his son Matt’s here. And together, we’re going to share a powerful study resource with you. And Matt, what do we have?

SPEAKER 04 : 21:35

Turn on the TV, surf the net and social media, drive down the street, talk to neighbors and colleagues any day of the week. And it doesn’t take long to see examples of a culture and a world seemingly gone mad. Well, our featured resource this month is my dad’s dynamite book, Life’s Greatest Questions.

SPEAKER 03 : 21:51

Inside, David Hawking brings readers into the truth of God’s word for answers on origins. How did our world come into being? What is unique about humans? What’s gone wrong in our culture? Am I good, bad, or both? What should I think about myself? What happens when I die? How do I respond to the chaos in today’s culture? And how do we show godly compassion while standing steadfast in biblical truth? That is so important. Get a copy of David’s book, Life’s Greatest Questions, and discover the wonder of biblical truth that answers each of these questions thoroughly and many more as well. And you can secure a copy for just $10. Life’s Greatest Questions is going to be a marvelous encouragement as we face increasing pressures in our day and time. And Life’s Greatest Questions, again, just $10 from Hope for Today. And when you purchase, please consider, prayerfully consider adding an extra amount, a donation to Hope for Today, or perhaps make a donation by itself. And please pray for Hope for Today. To get your copy of Life’s Greatest Questions, call 875-BIBLE, that’s in the U.S., or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. You can also order at DavidHawking.org. You know, as we approach the holiday season, can you believe Thanksgiving is just a few days away? And at this holiday season, would you consider sharing a special gift with Hope for Today? Your support right now is going to help us continue addressing the deepest heart need of all, and that’s the need for those without Christ to know the greatest gift of all time, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And also, this ministry is committed to helping believers everywhere find the joy of being fortified in God’s Word. And also, at this holiday season, your gift is going to help us catch up and get all bills paid by the end of the year. And by God’s grace and with your help, we’re going to do that. Give safely online at davidhawking.org or call us at 800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And if you prefer to write a note, we love getting your letters and you can send them in the U.S. to Hope for Today, Box 3927, Tustin, California. 92781. In Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO, Seven Oaks, Abbotsford, BC, V2S, 8P1. And here’s David.

SPEAKER 01 : 24:20

Thanks, friends, for listening today to Revelation. And we’re finishing up chapter 19, verses 1 to 10. Verse 9 says, Blessed are they which are called unto the married supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And one of the interesting things that happens here is John falls at his feet to worship him, the angel who gave him this message. But friends, that’s not what he should do. And it says, Those that have the testimony of Yeshua, worship God. There it is. For the testimony of Yeshua, of Jesus. is the spirit of prophecy. I don’t know of a better statement in all the book of Revelation. The first thing we know is that the worship that we bring is not to ourselves or our churches or anything like that. Not because there’s some musicians up there leading us. No, no. Worship is in the heart. Worship of our true Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords. And by the way, the last half of Revelation, which we’re going to get into, boy, you talk about a blessing. This is the second coming of our Lord, not the rapture. but when he comes at the end of the tribulation. Pretty exciting stuff, so I hope you’re ready. God bless you.

SPEAKER 03 : 26:02

Well, thank you, David. Next time on Hope for Today, David begins our exciting look at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Hey, you can’t afford to miss this study, and be sure to invite a friend to listen along with you, right here on Hope for Today.