The Wedding Countdown - The Marriage of the Lamb [Sermon]

Annapolis, Maryland, USA

October 2022

Revelation 19:6-10

6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

Hallelujah

Rev 6:10

They had cried, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”

Celebrating God’s justice

The eternal nature of that justice

Recognition of God’s sovereignty in the context of his justice

1. The Lord Reigns

Who is it that reigns?

Lord: The one who exercises supernatural authority over mankind.

God: The one supreme supernatural being, creator and sustainer of the universe.

Almighty: The one who controls all things, the omnipotent one.

Whose is it that reigns?

Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?

Samuel 17:45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel…

Who/What does God reign over?

2. The Marriage of the Lamb

a. ____________

b. ____________

Most of us find it very difficult to want “Heaven” at all – except in so far as “Heaven” means meeting again our friends who have died. One reason for this difficulty is that we have not been trained: our whole education tends to fix our minds on this world. Another reason is that when the real want for Heaven is present in us, we do not recognise it. Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. - CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

c. _______________

Phil 2:12

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed -not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Emotional aspect - longing

Mental aspect - constant thoughts

Behavioural aspect - life adjustment

Nandor Katz and Alan Moskin

Response

Anyone who is not prepared.

Anyone who needs the reminder that Our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Photo by Jeremy Wong Weddings on Unsplash