1 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,040 But for now, we'll read these first 10 verses of chapter 19 of 2 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:15,680 Revelation. 3 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,000 After this I heard what seemed to be a loud voice of a great multitude 4 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,000 in heaven crying out Hallelujah. 5 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,600 Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. 6 00:00:27,690 --> 00:00:30,080 And for his judgments are true and just. 7 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:35,280 For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth 8 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:40,080 with her immorality and has avenged on her the blood of his servants. 9 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,440 Once more they cried out, hallelujah. 10 00:00:43,919 --> 00:00:47,760 The smoke from her goes up forever and ever. 11 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,280 And the 24 elders and the 4 living creatures fell down and worshiped 12 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,970 God, who was seated on the throne, saying, I Amen. 13 00:00:55,970 --> 00:00:56,930 Hallelujah. 14 00:00:57,250 --> 00:01:01,330 And from the throne came a voice saying, praise our God, all 15 00:01:01,330 --> 00:01:05,410 you his servants, you who fear him, small and great. 16 00:01:06,770 --> 00:01:10,970 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like 17 00:01:10,970 --> 00:01:14,610 a roar of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals of 18 00:01:14,610 --> 00:01:16,770 thunder, crying out hallelujah. 19 00:01:17,010 --> 00:01:19,970 For the Lord, our God, the Almighty reigns. 20 00:01:20,610 --> 00:01:24,130 Let us rejoice and exalt and give him the glory. 21 00:01:24,700 --> 00:01:28,340 For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made 22 00:01:28,340 --> 00:01:29,500 herself ready. 23 00:01:29,980 --> 00:01:34,740 It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and 24 00:01:34,740 --> 00:01:35,260 pure. 25 00:01:35,820 --> 00:01:39,340 For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 26 00:01:40,300 --> 00:01:43,820 And the angel said to me, write this. 27 00:01:44,380 --> 00:01:47,500 Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of 28 00:01:47,500 --> 00:01:47,980 the Lamb. 29 00:01:48,220 --> 00:01:51,420 And he said to me, these are the true words of God. 30 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,880 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him. 31 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,560 But he said to me, you must not do that. 32 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:03,080 I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the 33 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:04,320 testimony of Jesus. 34 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:12,800 Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 35 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:14,080 Amen. 36 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,800 This is the word of God. 37 00:02:18,730 --> 00:02:21,210 I wonder what makes you really happy. 38 00:02:22,250 --> 00:02:24,730 And we'll each have a different way to answer that. 39 00:02:24,730 --> 00:02:28,370 Perhaps happiness comes from when you hear good news about a family 40 00:02:28,370 --> 00:02:28,730 member. 41 00:02:29,290 --> 00:02:33,130 Maybe happiness is about being recognized for something you've achieved. 42 00:02:33,530 --> 00:02:37,130 Or happiness comes from being with people whom you love and whom 43 00:02:37,130 --> 00:02:38,650 who love you in return. 44 00:02:39,690 --> 00:02:43,570 And it may be that not one of these things make you happy, but 45 00:02:43,570 --> 00:02:47,120 a combination of multiple things or events that bring real 46 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:47,600 happiness. 47 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,960 And I have to say I sat down and I thought, what does make me 48 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:51,520 happy? 49 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:57,520 Well, I was happy when I saw that England, Mexico would return 50 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:01,200 to one o' clock this morning because I was panicking that I might 51 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,280 have to have results up on the screen here. 52 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:07,280 You know, every blow by blow play, in case you were getting anxious 53 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:08,640 of what was going on. 54 00:03:08,640 --> 00:03:09,720 That made me very happy. 55 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:14,300 That FIFA, after my phone call with them, they decided to move it 56 00:03:14,300 --> 00:03:16,380 Back to one o' clock this morning or tomorrow morning. 57 00:03:17,020 --> 00:03:18,300 Then I thought, you know what? 58 00:03:18,380 --> 00:03:19,740 I just love ice cream. 59 00:03:21,020 --> 00:03:22,500 I love a big bowl of ice cream. 60 00:03:22,500 --> 00:03:24,020 I'm not allowed a big bowl of ice cream. 61 00:03:24,020 --> 00:03:25,620 I always have to go for a small cone. 62 00:03:25,620 --> 00:03:26,460 That's what I'm told. 63 00:03:26,540 --> 00:03:28,380 But I do love a big bowl of ice cream. 64 00:03:29,580 --> 00:03:31,260 And then I just love the contentment. 65 00:03:32,380 --> 00:03:35,220 I love the contentment of sitting in a chair with a cup of 66 00:03:35,220 --> 00:03:37,420 coffee and reading a book. 67 00:03:38,710 --> 00:03:42,270 It doesn't sound spectacular, I know, but these are the things 68 00:03:42,270 --> 00:03:44,790 that do my heart good in one way or another. 69 00:03:45,590 --> 00:03:50,310 It's real happiness because it's something that's within, that 70 00:03:50,630 --> 00:03:52,470 it lasts for the moment. 71 00:03:52,470 --> 00:03:56,390 And in that moment, nothing really can take away that experience. 72 00:03:58,710 --> 00:04:02,670 The reason why I prompt us to think about deep happiness is because 73 00:04:02,670 --> 00:04:07,420 I want us to try and capture a term from Scripture that perhaps 74 00:04:07,420 --> 00:04:12,220 is hard to articulate without muddying its definition and its true 75 00:04:12,220 --> 00:04:12,700 meaning. 76 00:04:13,180 --> 00:04:16,980 Because the expression that we're drawn to in Revelation 19 is 77 00:04:16,980 --> 00:04:18,300 that of rejoicing. 78 00:04:19,260 --> 00:04:21,660 Because that is what we see in this chapter. 79 00:04:22,700 --> 00:04:26,340 And by way of a quick recap, here is what has been happening in 80 00:04:26,340 --> 00:04:27,580 the last number of chapters. 81 00:04:27,580 --> 00:04:31,140 In chapter 16, we were introduced to the seven bowls of 82 00:04:31,140 --> 00:04:31,700 God's wrath. 83 00:04:31,700 --> 00:04:35,020 And these bowls were poured out on sinful, rebellious humanity. 84 00:04:35,540 --> 00:04:39,740 And even though the men of the earth question the fairness of their 85 00:04:39,740 --> 00:04:45,660 severity, John tells us that they are fair and they're just, because 86 00:04:45,660 --> 00:04:49,300 they come from a just and fair God. 87 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:54,260 In the seventh bowl, we heard a loud voice declaring to humanity 88 00:04:54,260 --> 00:04:55,940 a truth that it needed to hear. 89 00:04:56,980 --> 00:05:01,980 And there we read in chapter 16 and verse 17, the seventh angel 90 00:05:01,980 --> 00:05:04,980 poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of 91 00:05:04,980 --> 00:05:08,480 the temple from the throne saying, it is done. 92 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,640 The Lord declares now to humanity that his punishments are 93 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:14,160 over and they're ended. 94 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:14,960 And that is it. 95 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:16,640 There is no more. 96 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:20,720 It's not that humanity has now got off and can get back on. 97 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:24,320 There's nothing left of humanity for them to get on with. 98 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:28,080 Because this is a moment of great celebration for God's people 99 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,280 and a moment of great fear for those who rebelled against Him. 100 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,520 Before their eyes, the great prostitute Babylon, representing 101 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:38,760 all the evil of the world, falls from the favor of the world 102 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:39,660 around her. 103 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:41,020 She is burned up. 104 00:05:41,020 --> 00:05:42,540 She's destroyed forever. 105 00:05:42,700 --> 00:05:47,100 And those who benefited from her are left at a distance, not knowing 106 00:05:47,100 --> 00:05:50,300 what to do, but realizing that everything they had built their life 107 00:05:50,300 --> 00:05:55,580 upon was now gone, and they too would face the same punishment 108 00:05:56,140 --> 00:05:57,260 as the great city. 109 00:05:58,940 --> 00:06:05,830 Now, as we move on into chapter 19, we don't see, we hear, 110 00:06:07,270 --> 00:06:10,070 because John tells us in verses 1 and 2. 111 00:06:10,950 --> 00:06:16,190 After this, I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a 112 00:06:16,190 --> 00:06:17,830 great multitude in heaven. 113 00:06:18,390 --> 00:06:22,230 And this is what he heard, them crying out, hallelujah. 114 00:06:22,550 --> 00:06:26,310 Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments 115 00:06:26,310 --> 00:06:27,430 are true and just. 116 00:06:27,670 --> 00:06:31,110 For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth 117 00:06:31,110 --> 00:06:35,790 with her immorality and has avenged on her the blood of his servants. 118 00:06:37,310 --> 00:06:41,270 John hears the voices of thousands upon thousands, if not 119 00:06:41,270 --> 00:06:44,910 millions upon millions, crying out in praise of God. 120 00:06:45,550 --> 00:06:49,870 And what we're about to hear is the victory song of heaven and 121 00:06:49,870 --> 00:06:54,350 comes from a place of deep rejoicing of the victory of the Lamb. 122 00:06:55,710 --> 00:07:01,100 Now, whenever I asked us what mix us deeply happy, you'll have 123 00:07:01,100 --> 00:07:02,100 known for quite a while. 124 00:07:02,100 --> 00:07:05,380 I've told you, rejoicing and joy is not happiness. 125 00:07:05,780 --> 00:07:07,260 It's not that kind of emotion. 126 00:07:07,260 --> 00:07:10,900 But deep happiness is the best, the closest we can get to it, 127 00:07:11,700 --> 00:07:14,580 because what we're seeing here is not happiness. 128 00:07:15,060 --> 00:07:18,340 Because happiness will disappear when bad news comes. 129 00:07:19,140 --> 00:07:22,020 What we're seeing here in heaven, and the greatest earthly 130 00:07:22,020 --> 00:07:25,300 emotion we can express that will get us anywhere close to it, 131 00:07:25,710 --> 00:07:31,230 but yet falls far short, is a natural response to the perfect One 132 00:07:31,630 --> 00:07:36,950 who makes us holy and makes us true before the Father's throne. 133 00:07:36,950 --> 00:07:42,030 Because that's exactly where God's people are, before his throne. 134 00:07:42,030 --> 00:07:45,070 And the voices in heaven cry out hallelujah. 135 00:07:45,310 --> 00:07:48,670 And they ascribe salvation and glory and power to God. 136 00:07:49,870 --> 00:07:54,380 In this Word, we see the contrast between the judgment of 137 00:07:54,380 --> 00:07:57,660 the rebellious and the joy of the redeemed. 138 00:07:58,460 --> 00:08:03,340 The people of God have been saved from the evil witch, the monster 139 00:08:03,420 --> 00:08:05,980 who tormented them relentlessly. 140 00:08:06,300 --> 00:08:11,620 And God has now shown himself glorious and powerful by delivering 141 00:08:11,620 --> 00:08:14,700 his people and judging their great enemy. 142 00:08:15,340 --> 00:08:17,260 And that's what verse two tells us. 143 00:08:17,820 --> 00:08:21,500 God's judgments are true and they're just. 144 00:08:22,700 --> 00:08:25,740 No one can question him because he is completely fair. 145 00:08:26,780 --> 00:08:29,020 The judgment is not arbitrary. 146 00:08:30,460 --> 00:08:31,900 In fact, it's quite the opposite. 147 00:08:32,380 --> 00:08:36,100 God's judgment of Babylon agrees with justice and is the right 148 00:08:36,100 --> 00:08:36,700 thing to do. 149 00:08:36,700 --> 00:08:39,820 In other words, God's justice would be called into question if 150 00:08:39,820 --> 00:08:44,860 he did not judge Babylon, if he did not judge the unrepentant 151 00:08:44,860 --> 00:08:45,340 sinner. 152 00:08:46,790 --> 00:08:48,390 And what's the perspective of heaven? 153 00:08:48,390 --> 00:08:52,310 Well, the saints rejoice because they see that God has put 154 00:08:52,710 --> 00:08:54,150 everything right. 155 00:08:55,430 --> 00:08:59,790 The regime of the great harlot has been destroyed forever, and the 156 00:08:59,790 --> 00:09:04,030 world can enjoy the peace and harmony God intended for it from 157 00:09:04,030 --> 00:09:04,870 the outset. 158 00:09:05,430 --> 00:09:09,350 The judgment of the harlot is fitting because of her harmful impact 159 00:09:09,350 --> 00:09:10,230 on the earth. 160 00:09:10,870 --> 00:09:13,910 She corrupted it with her immorality. 161 00:09:13,910 --> 00:09:15,870 That's what the song tells us. 162 00:09:16,350 --> 00:09:19,910 And again, the focus is not explicitly on sexual sin, though 163 00:09:19,910 --> 00:09:21,390 it is likely to be included. 164 00:09:21,790 --> 00:09:25,950 Sexual immorality here, as we've seen in other passages, is 165 00:09:25,950 --> 00:09:31,030 often signifying the idolatry of Babylon and her refusal to worship 166 00:09:31,030 --> 00:09:32,350 the one true God. 167 00:09:33,150 --> 00:09:38,960 Babylon's passion is to see all people everywhere worship the 168 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,520 beast and not worship the one true God. 169 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,960 But the judgment, it's fair, it's just, but it's also warranted 170 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,600 because of the martyrdom of God's servants. 171 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:51,960 Did you pick that up? 172 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:54,519 That God has avenged their blood. 173 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,000 Where have we seen this blood before? 174 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:03,720 Well, the blood of the martyrs on the altar where their cry came 175 00:10:04,410 --> 00:10:05,370 for how long? 176 00:10:06,090 --> 00:10:09,370 And now we see the blood of the martyrs is avenged. 177 00:10:09,370 --> 00:10:13,290 And avenged does not signify a crazed or unrestrained vengeance. 178 00:10:13,770 --> 00:10:18,090 Instead, it signifies the just punishment deserved by those who 179 00:10:18,090 --> 00:10:20,970 have murdered the people of God in all of history. 180 00:10:22,490 --> 00:10:26,570 As we go into verse three, it repeats the Hallelujah refrain, but 181 00:10:26,570 --> 00:10:30,410 gives us an insight into what they are seeing from heaven. 182 00:10:31,620 --> 00:10:37,940 Their praise comes as they see the smoke of Babylon rising forever. 183 00:10:38,740 --> 00:10:42,740 They're full of praise when they see the justice and rightness 184 00:10:42,740 --> 00:10:45,940 of God's judgment on their great enemy. 185 00:10:46,419 --> 00:10:49,940 Because the judgment is permanent and it's irreversible. 186 00:10:50,180 --> 00:10:52,700 For the smoke of Babylon ascends forever. 187 00:10:52,700 --> 00:10:55,780 And this is what was foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament. 188 00:10:56,020 --> 00:10:58,020 Babylon will never rise again. 189 00:10:58,260 --> 00:11:01,720 Her reign is over now. 190 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:05,200 This is not deep happiness and glee that we're seeing here in heaven. 191 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:09,960 This is rejoicing in the very work of God and the fulfilling of 192 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,360 all his covenant promises to his people. 193 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,200 And this is a wonderful moment to behold. 194 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,160 And there's a great sense of the delight and the joy that will 195 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:26,230 be ours when we see the end of all things and the end of evil, the 196 00:11:26,230 --> 00:11:26,950 end of sin. 197 00:11:28,870 --> 00:11:32,470 But do you know that rejoicing doesn't come naturally to us? 198 00:11:33,270 --> 00:11:35,190 I'm not suggesting we're unhappy people. 199 00:11:35,750 --> 00:11:38,230 I'm not suggesting we have a negative bent. 200 00:11:38,950 --> 00:11:41,110 But rejoicing doesn't come naturally. 201 00:11:41,589 --> 00:11:44,790 And we know this because all we have to do is look back to chapter 202 00:11:44,790 --> 00:11:45,110 18. 203 00:11:46,550 --> 00:11:48,390 Remember the poor souls back there? 204 00:11:49,190 --> 00:11:50,150 They looked on. 205 00:11:50,790 --> 00:11:53,860 And as they looked on at the destruction of Babylon, what did 206 00:11:53,860 --> 00:11:54,260 they do? 207 00:11:55,060 --> 00:11:55,780 They wept. 208 00:11:56,180 --> 00:11:57,540 For she was no more. 209 00:11:58,900 --> 00:12:00,580 They're sorry to see her go. 210 00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:06,060 They're not found among the redeemed because they love the things 211 00:12:06,060 --> 00:12:07,780 of the world more than Christ. 212 00:12:08,660 --> 00:12:10,020 They're not rejoicing. 213 00:12:10,260 --> 00:12:12,580 It doesn't come Naturally to them. 214 00:12:13,940 --> 00:12:17,300 Rather, they're weeping and sorrowful because everything they 215 00:12:17,300 --> 00:12:18,260 know is gone. 216 00:12:18,990 --> 00:12:20,950 And they will face the same judgment. 217 00:12:20,950 --> 00:12:22,270 And this is a warning to us. 218 00:12:23,710 --> 00:12:27,270 It's a warning to us that we need to rejoice in the destruction 219 00:12:27,270 --> 00:12:31,870 of evil and not be sorrowful in it. 220 00:12:34,190 --> 00:12:38,190 Now, that means we need to pay attention to the Lord. 221 00:12:38,830 --> 00:12:41,630 We need to pay attention to his way. 222 00:12:41,950 --> 00:12:44,950 After all, that's why the redeemed are in heaven, because they 223 00:12:44,950 --> 00:12:45,310 have. 224 00:12:47,510 --> 00:12:49,350 They've paid attention to who Christ is. 225 00:12:49,350 --> 00:12:50,710 They have not rejected him. 226 00:12:51,270 --> 00:12:55,150 And their rejoicing is not glee, but rather an understanding 227 00:12:55,150 --> 00:12:56,470 that God is just and fair. 228 00:12:57,510 --> 00:12:58,950 And what about those who weep? 229 00:12:59,750 --> 00:13:01,510 Well, there's no joy found in them. 230 00:13:02,710 --> 00:13:04,670 They cry and they cry and they cry. 231 00:13:04,670 --> 00:13:08,870 No tear will be wiped from their eye because they have rejected 232 00:13:08,870 --> 00:13:11,750 and the time has gone for them to repent. 233 00:13:15,270 --> 00:13:20,630 Verse 4 draws us to the center of heaven, to where the 24 elders 234 00:13:20,630 --> 00:13:24,710 and four living creatures fall down in worship before God, who is 235 00:13:24,710 --> 00:13:25,750 on his throne. 236 00:13:25,830 --> 00:13:27,990 And they cry, amen. 237 00:13:28,150 --> 00:13:29,190 Hallelujah. 238 00:13:30,230 --> 00:13:32,670 Do you remember last week I told you that there was no exact 239 00:13:32,670 --> 00:13:36,310 phrase in the Bible called everlasting or total praise? 240 00:13:36,550 --> 00:13:39,800 There is one everlasting praise, and that's what it is there 241 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,760 before you in Revelation chapter 19 and verse 4. 242 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:43,360 Amen. 243 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:48,760 Hallelujah is everlasting praise, because amen means agreement 244 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,400 and Hallelujah is jubilant praise. 245 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:55,040 And so when you put these two together in the realms of heaven, 246 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,320 it is everlasting praise. 247 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,520 And as they sing these everlasting words, they receive a 248 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,000 response in verse five. 249 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,240 And look where the response comes from. 250 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:10,330 It comes from the A voice comes from the throne saying, praise 251 00:14:10,330 --> 00:14:16,810 our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great. 252 00:14:17,530 --> 00:14:19,450 A voice comes from the throne. 253 00:14:20,090 --> 00:14:22,010 And this is truly a phenomenon. 254 00:14:22,250 --> 00:14:25,570 We only see it on two other occasions in Revelation, chapter 255 00:14:25,570 --> 00:14:28,410 16, and we will see it again in chapter 21. 256 00:14:28,890 --> 00:14:32,250 And once again there's a call to praise God, presumably again, 257 00:14:32,490 --> 00:14:37,620 for his saving intervention of his people by taking them away from 258 00:14:37,620 --> 00:14:41,260 Babylon as they look on to her destruction. 259 00:14:42,220 --> 00:14:46,220 Because in judging Babylon, which He must do, he must judge this 260 00:14:46,220 --> 00:14:50,820 sinful world, God also saves his people and delivers them from 261 00:14:50,820 --> 00:14:51,500 his enemies. 262 00:14:52,300 --> 00:14:55,580 You see, with judgment comes salvation. 263 00:14:56,140 --> 00:14:59,900 And these images are regularly given to us in the Old Testament 264 00:15:00,460 --> 00:15:04,640 when God is victorious over his enemies, be they Egypt, Assyria, 265 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,360 or Babylon, he also saves his people. 266 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,560 He was victorious over Egypt, and the people were led through the 267 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:14,640 Red Sea and redeemed. 268 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,919 The Lord defeated Assyria and the people went home. 269 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,560 And now Babylon, she is destroyed. 270 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:27,120 And judged, and the people are saved for all eternity. 271 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:31,770 So all of God's servants, those who fear and honor him, whether 272 00:15:31,770 --> 00:15:35,370 they're insignificant or influential in the world's eye, are 273 00:15:35,370 --> 00:15:40,530 called, are summoned to praise God for who he is and what he has 274 00:15:40,530 --> 00:15:40,890 done. 275 00:15:41,370 --> 00:15:44,650 And I wonder, do you notice in these verses that the praise comes 276 00:15:44,810 --> 00:15:47,370 after the judgment, not before? 277 00:15:48,410 --> 00:15:50,210 And that's significant for us. 278 00:15:50,210 --> 00:15:56,010 For as long as unbelievers are alive, we are to pray for their salvation. 279 00:15:56,820 --> 00:15:59,980 But on the last day, after history has concluded, we will see 280 00:15:59,980 --> 00:16:04,180 that the judgment of God is right and true and just and complete. 281 00:16:04,660 --> 00:16:08,020 None of us will question whether those who are in hell should 282 00:16:08,020 --> 00:16:09,060 be there or not. 283 00:16:09,540 --> 00:16:13,020 For then we will see the perfect rightness and goodness of 284 00:16:13,020 --> 00:16:13,940 God's judgment. 285 00:16:14,500 --> 00:16:18,260 But in this time, while there is still time, we must be praying 286 00:16:18,260 --> 00:16:22,220 for the lost and for the rebellious, that they will come to 287 00:16:22,220 --> 00:16:26,390 Christ for salvation and and so escape such terrible punishment 288 00:16:26,550 --> 00:16:27,910 that is waiting for them. 289 00:16:28,390 --> 00:16:31,350 And that's why, again, I invite you to join us on Tuesday 290 00:16:31,350 --> 00:16:35,470 morning at half past seven where we pray for the salvation of 291 00:16:35,470 --> 00:16:35,830 the lost. 292 00:16:36,470 --> 00:16:39,830 We pray for our front line of mission, which is right here. 293 00:16:41,270 --> 00:16:45,110 We pray that rebellious and sinful souls will come to Christ 294 00:16:45,110 --> 00:16:49,830 for salvation and so that those we know and love will escape 295 00:16:49,830 --> 00:16:54,050 such terrible punishment that at this moment they rightly deserve, 296 00:16:54,610 --> 00:16:57,490 but because of Christ, they can be redeemed. 297 00:16:59,490 --> 00:17:03,850 But the scene of joy continues as John again hears the multitude 298 00:17:03,850 --> 00:17:04,610 of voices. 299 00:17:05,330 --> 00:17:09,330 And this time he returns to how they've been described before. 300 00:17:09,730 --> 00:17:15,810 Again he hears, and we're told that they're loud and they're strong. 301 00:17:16,770 --> 00:17:20,690 They cry out in verses six through to verse eight. 302 00:17:21,159 --> 00:17:24,759 Hallelujah for the Lord, our God, the Almighty reigns. 303 00:17:25,159 --> 00:17:28,039 Let us rejoice and exalt and give him the glory. 304 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:32,799 For the marriage of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself 305 00:17:32,799 --> 00:17:33,319 ready. 306 00:17:33,639 --> 00:17:37,879 It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and 307 00:17:37,879 --> 00:17:38,359 pure. 308 00:17:39,479 --> 00:17:43,319 Believers are here told to rejoice and exalt and glorify God, 309 00:17:43,319 --> 00:17:48,170 because the wedding of the Lamb is at hand, as hinted at by 310 00:17:48,170 --> 00:17:50,210 isaiah in chapter 61. 311 00:17:50,850 --> 00:17:55,410 And one of the remarkable features of this section is the irrepressible 312 00:17:55,410 --> 00:17:57,890 gladness that's bursting through the text. 313 00:17:58,690 --> 00:18:01,970 It's hard to imagine anything more joyful than a wedding. 314 00:18:02,770 --> 00:18:05,890 And this is the wedding of all weddings. 315 00:18:07,090 --> 00:18:09,250 I do enjoy a good wedding. 316 00:18:09,330 --> 00:18:11,810 Now, don't ask me how to define a good wedding, because I'm 317 00:18:11,810 --> 00:18:13,010 not sure how I would define that. 318 00:18:13,010 --> 00:18:14,450 All weddings are good, surely. 319 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:17,080 I love the service. 320 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:18,760 I love the hymns. 321 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:24,760 I love the food and I don't mind a wee boogie on the dance floor. 322 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:30,200 Weddings are good, but it is interesting. 323 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:35,760 Wise words once shared with many a pastor from a gentleman called 324 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:36,200 legend. 325 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:41,970 Duncan said, as pastors, we run to funerals and walk to weddings. 326 00:18:43,170 --> 00:18:45,490 See, weddings are where no one wants to hear about Christ. 327 00:18:46,050 --> 00:18:47,970 We're too happy, caught up in the day. 328 00:18:48,690 --> 00:18:51,930 Funerals make us more confronted with the realities of 329 00:18:51,930 --> 00:18:52,530 who we are. 330 00:18:53,650 --> 00:18:55,890 But this is not like a wedding here on earth. 331 00:18:56,450 --> 00:18:59,850 We can picture the greatest wedding, but that wedding will be 332 00:18:59,850 --> 00:19:03,970 over 1, 2 in the morning and that's it done. 333 00:19:04,690 --> 00:19:08,290 What we're looking at here is a truly joy filled moment that is 334 00:19:08,290 --> 00:19:13,130 ours because all our marriages, all marriages of this 335 00:19:13,130 --> 00:19:16,450 world are modeled after Christ's relationship with the church. 336 00:19:16,930 --> 00:19:19,970 And we have been prepared and are being prepared for this. 337 00:19:19,970 --> 00:19:22,970 And what we read here for the Lord's relationship to Israel is 338 00:19:22,970 --> 00:19:26,370 also explained in terms of bride and groom by many of the prophets. 339 00:19:26,530 --> 00:19:30,330 And so the wedding of the Lamb tells us of the consummation of God's 340 00:19:30,330 --> 00:19:34,610 purpose in history, signifying his desire to be in relationship 341 00:19:35,180 --> 00:19:36,380 with human beings. 342 00:19:37,180 --> 00:19:42,700 The bride the church must be ready to marry the Lamb, as is further 343 00:19:42,700 --> 00:19:44,140 explained to us in verse eight. 344 00:19:44,460 --> 00:19:48,100 And if you look at the text there we have it on the screen, you'll 345 00:19:48,100 --> 00:19:52,660 see that the bride is prepared for the wedding to the Lamb, wearing 346 00:19:52,660 --> 00:19:53,740 the proper clothing. 347 00:19:54,220 --> 00:19:56,700 Her adornment consists of fine linen. 348 00:19:56,860 --> 00:19:58,860 It's bright and it's pure. 349 00:19:59,740 --> 00:20:03,460 Now, two things are said about the bride's adornment here in Revelation 350 00:20:03,460 --> 00:20:03,820 19. 351 00:20:03,980 --> 00:20:06,460 First, the fine linen is given to her by God. 352 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,760 The goodness of the bride is a gift of God, not as a result of the 353 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,040 inherent virtue or wealth of the bride. 354 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:19,320 And so as the church, there is nothing of ourselves that makes us 355 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:19,800 ready. 356 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:21,640 It is only by the gift of God. 357 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:26,560 Second, the adornment of the bride stands for the goodness actualized 358 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:27,320 in her life. 359 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:32,160 The fine linen of the bride in Revelation, John explains, just represents 360 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,200 the righteous deeds of the saints. 361 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:38,800 And so here the bride's apparel stands in contrast to the 362 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:40,280 fine linen of Babylon. 363 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:45,200 We saw this in other chapters of how Babylon was described with 364 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:49,080 its wealth and its opulence, how it was dressed and all the jewels 365 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:50,040 that it went after. 366 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:54,520 But you see, whenever fine linen is described in Babylon, it's 367 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:56,840 not talking about the righteous deeds of her. 368 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:01,330 Rather it is accusing her of how she's been filled with luxury 369 00:21:01,490 --> 00:21:02,530 and debauchery. 370 00:21:03,570 --> 00:21:08,290 But now in heaven, the bride is ready because she has lived a 371 00:21:08,290 --> 00:21:12,410 holy life, has done what is pleasing to God, and has not followed 372 00:21:12,410 --> 00:21:14,930 the pathway carved out by Babylon. 373 00:21:15,890 --> 00:21:18,890 Still, the righteous deeds of the bride are the result of God's 374 00:21:18,890 --> 00:21:19,730 work in her life. 375 00:21:20,450 --> 00:21:25,490 And with this song rising in his ears, John is given the instruction 376 00:21:25,490 --> 00:21:26,930 by the angel before him. 377 00:21:26,930 --> 00:21:30,920 In verse nine, the angel said to me, write this. 378 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,640 Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of 379 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:35,160 the Lamb. 380 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:39,560 And he said to me, these are the true words of God. 381 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:46,640 John is to make sure that we get the full picture of what the 382 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:48,440 rejoicing in heaven will be like. 383 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:54,770 He is told to tell us that it is the greatest blessing to be invited 384 00:21:54,770 --> 00:21:56,370 to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 385 00:21:56,610 --> 00:21:59,170 Blessing that comes from God alone. 386 00:21:59,490 --> 00:22:01,730 No feast compares to this feast. 387 00:22:01,810 --> 00:22:06,770 And the joy at this supper is incomparable to any joy on earth. 388 00:22:07,250 --> 00:22:11,210 The angel also affirms that his words are the true words of God. 389 00:22:11,210 --> 00:22:14,810 And that's important for us because the promises are so great 390 00:22:14,810 --> 00:22:18,730 and so stunning and so different from life on earth with 391 00:22:18,730 --> 00:22:20,930 its sorrows and its sufferings. 392 00:22:21,170 --> 00:22:26,190 We need to be assured that what we read here is true, that they 393 00:22:26,190 --> 00:22:28,070 will become a reality. 394 00:22:29,190 --> 00:22:34,550 And here we have glorious hope in what the Lord will do for his 395 00:22:34,550 --> 00:22:34,870 people. 396 00:22:37,270 --> 00:22:42,550 And let's be honest, what great news we need to hear on a weekend 397 00:22:42,630 --> 00:22:46,710 such as this, with sadness in our hearts. 398 00:22:47,510 --> 00:22:52,710 For a day is coming when we will be lifted from this world and 399 00:22:52,710 --> 00:22:57,020 its pain and misery and brought into the presence of our 400 00:22:57,410 --> 00:22:59,970 Savior for all eternity. 401 00:23:01,570 --> 00:23:02,610 And picture it. 402 00:23:03,330 --> 00:23:09,770 Eternity is a place of abundance, a place of true joy, a 403 00:23:09,770 --> 00:23:14,770 place of true love, and a place of perfect blessing. 404 00:23:16,930 --> 00:23:19,490 And we can be sure of it tonight. 405 00:23:20,930 --> 00:23:27,100 All we need to do is respond to Jesus, to know him truly as our 406 00:23:27,100 --> 00:23:27,700 Savior. 407 00:23:28,340 --> 00:23:32,500 And because of him and God's work in us to make us righteous, 408 00:23:33,380 --> 00:23:37,300 then we are invited to the greatest wedding feast you can ever 409 00:23:37,300 --> 00:23:37,940 imagine. 410 00:23:38,660 --> 00:23:40,500 And verse 10 tells us how to do this. 411 00:23:40,500 --> 00:23:42,220 But John doesn't get it right. 412 00:23:42,220 --> 00:23:47,340 Did you notice that he was so overcome by what he saw and what 413 00:23:47,340 --> 00:23:51,070 he heard, he falls down at the feet of the angel, angel. 414 00:23:51,630 --> 00:23:52,910 And look what happens. 415 00:23:54,190 --> 00:23:56,150 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. 416 00:23:56,150 --> 00:23:59,310 But he said to me, you must not do that. 417 00:23:59,470 --> 00:24:03,310 I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the 418 00:24:03,310 --> 00:24:04,510 testimony of Jesus. 419 00:24:05,950 --> 00:24:11,310 Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 420 00:24:12,030 --> 00:24:16,310 John's actually rebuked here by the angel and told not to worship 421 00:24:16,310 --> 00:24:20,780 him, as he, like John, is just a fellow servant of the Lord. 422 00:24:21,420 --> 00:24:24,580 John is commanded to do what we're all commanded to do, and that 423 00:24:24,580 --> 00:24:25,900 is to worship God. 424 00:24:25,980 --> 00:24:27,980 That is the appropriate response. 425 00:24:29,420 --> 00:24:33,780 And that's what we need to hear our lives must be of the worship 426 00:24:33,780 --> 00:24:35,660 of God, of who he is. 427 00:24:36,220 --> 00:24:39,820 It's not simply tripping off my words or trying to remind us of 428 00:24:39,820 --> 00:24:42,700 the first catechism we learn of what I say morning and evening 429 00:24:42,700 --> 00:24:45,020 to go and glorify God and enjoy him forever. 430 00:24:45,020 --> 00:24:49,120 That's what worship Father of God is, to glorify him, to enjoy 431 00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:52,040 him and to know that it is forever. 432 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:53,400 This is what we're called to do. 433 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:57,720 This is the response that is appropriate and acceptable to God. 434 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,000 Now you'll have noticed there, the closing line of verse 10. 435 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,600 It speaks of the testimony of Jesus as being the Spirit of prophecy. 436 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:10,160 Well, John here is telling us that spirit inspired prophecy focuses 437 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:14,760 on the testimony given by and the testimony about Jesus Christ. 438 00:25:15,730 --> 00:25:19,570 Believers are to worship God and to be God centered. 439 00:25:20,530 --> 00:25:25,730 But prophecy also points us to the centrality of Jesus and His majesty 440 00:25:25,730 --> 00:25:31,170 and his greatness, and the fact that he truly is our Savior. 441 00:25:32,130 --> 00:25:35,090 And so, as we conclude this evening, our response to this text 442 00:25:35,490 --> 00:25:36,690 is to worship God. 443 00:25:38,210 --> 00:25:41,490 All too often we think of how that works externally. 444 00:25:42,420 --> 00:25:46,700 But the Lord requires our hearts to be his because that is 445 00:25:46,700 --> 00:25:48,900 where true worship comes from. 446 00:25:49,620 --> 00:25:52,980 And so we must respond to Christ so that we can know our invitation 447 00:25:52,980 --> 00:25:54,500 to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 448 00:25:54,740 --> 00:25:58,260 Knowing that we are among the redeemed and not among the rebellious 449 00:25:58,260 --> 00:26:03,460 and the lost, I urge you tonight to worship God, to know his 450 00:26:03,540 --> 00:26:04,740 full salvation. 451 00:26:05,540 --> 00:26:08,260 After all, that's what many of the Psalms have told God's people 452 00:26:08,260 --> 00:26:09,140 for generations. 453 00:26:10,020 --> 00:26:12,020 Psalm 96, verse 9, being one of them. 454 00:26:12,020 --> 00:26:14,580 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. 455 00:26:15,460 --> 00:26:19,060 Tremble before him all the earth. 456 00:26:19,700 --> 00:26:22,260 Rejoice and tremble. 457 00:26:23,060 --> 00:26:25,940 Know who our God is and worship Him. 458 00:26:28,820 --> 00:26:30,740 What gives you deep happiness? 459 00:26:33,780 --> 00:26:39,430 That's the best we can get to in our human experience before we 460 00:26:39,430 --> 00:26:40,590 get true joy. 461 00:26:41,310 --> 00:26:44,670 Joy is that peace that surpasses all understanding. 462 00:26:45,310 --> 00:26:48,110 Joy is knowing that we can go through the hardest moments of life 463 00:26:48,110 --> 00:26:48,990 and it's okay. 464 00:26:49,070 --> 00:26:51,910 But joy is also knowing that we're going through the happiest 465 00:26:51,910 --> 00:26:54,670 moments of life and that it is truly the Lord's blessing to us. 466 00:26:56,270 --> 00:26:58,750 We're called to rejoice and tremble for who God is. 467 00:26:59,150 --> 00:27:00,870 Our great and our wonderful God. 468 00:27:00,870 --> 00:27:03,750 And our response to him is, is to worship him. 469 00:27:03,750 --> 00:27:05,030 All because of Jesus. 470 00:27:05,990 --> 00:27:09,950 He is our Savior, whom we must trust this night not to walk out 471 00:27:09,950 --> 00:27:12,870 this door and think we can do it on our own, because we cannot. 472 00:27:13,830 --> 00:27:16,710 If that's how we think, we will be left with the weeping. 473 00:27:17,350 --> 00:27:21,790 We will be left looking at Babylon as she is punished and is 474 00:27:21,790 --> 00:27:25,510 to be found no more with her smoke rising for all eternity as 475 00:27:25,510 --> 00:27:27,190 a testimony of her punishment. 476 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:29,520 So turn to Jesus. 477 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:31,000 Look to him. 478 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:35,960 No true glorious hope that sees us beyond this night, tomorrow 479 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:40,480 and the next day and the next that will take us into heaven and 480 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:44,399 that great throne room where we are called to worship God. 481 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:50,240 And we will have an everlasting praise of amen and hallelujah. 482 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:52,400 Let us pray. 483 00:27:53,900 --> 00:27:57,260 Our Father God, we thank you for your word that shows us what 484 00:27:57,260 --> 00:28:00,460 a future in Christ looks like and what a wonderful. 485 00:28:01,340 --> 00:28:05,940 What a wonderful balm for our hearts this evening that the reality 486 00:28:05,940 --> 00:28:09,580 of the redeemed who die on earth that they are present with 487 00:28:09,580 --> 00:28:16,540 you in heaven awaiting our coming to that wonderful wedding 488 00:28:16,540 --> 00:28:17,420 feast of the Lamb. 489 00:28:19,100 --> 00:28:22,300 Lord, may we leave with our hearts full of joy because of that. 490 00:28:23,430 --> 00:28:26,270 May we leave with our hearts full of joy because of salvation 491 00:28:26,270 --> 00:28:26,950 in Jesus. 492 00:28:27,830 --> 00:28:31,470 May we leave with hearts full of joy because of the destruction 493 00:28:31,470 --> 00:28:35,910 and the punishment that is right, just and fair of this world 494 00:28:35,910 --> 00:28:37,750 that rebels and is sin filled. 495 00:28:38,790 --> 00:28:43,830 Father, may we rejoice in a Savior who calls us to trust in him. 496 00:28:45,190 --> 00:28:50,560 So hear us as we cry out to you, as we respond and as we look 497 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:52,960 to you to lead us ever on. 498 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:56,880 And we ask it in Jesus name, Amen.