Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Transition:

Following Babylon’s destruction (17:1–19:5), we come to the full and final victory of God over the forces of evil (19:6–20:15).

God’s victory begins with the announcement that it is time for the wedding of the Lamb (19:6–10), an announcement that includes the great multitude celebrating the beginning of God’s eternal reign (19:6–8) and a blessing on those who are invited to the Lamb’s wedding feast (19:9).

The unit concludes with the angel reminding John to worship God alone, since God (by his Spirit) is the source of the revelation about Jesus (19:10).

The announcement of 19:6–10 is immediately followed by the return of Christ for his bride in 19:11–16 and a series of visions showing God’s final judgment of his enemies in 19:17–20:15.

Following Babylon’s destruction (17:1–19:5), we come to the full and final victory of God over the forces of evil (19:6–20:15).

God’s victory begins with the announcement that it is time for the wedding of the Lamb (19:6–10), an announcement that includes the great multitude celebrating the beginning of God’s eternal reign (19:6–8) and a blessing on those who are invited to the Lamb’s wedding feast (v.9).

This announcement—which is our passage this morning—is immediately followed by the return of Christ for his bride in 19:11–16 and a series of visions showing God’s final judgment of his enemies in 19:17–20:15.

Scripture Reading:

Of all the images God could have used to describe the eternal state, why a wedding supper?

It’s because throughout Scripture the marriage metaphor depicts God’s relationship with his people like no other (e.g., Hos.

2:16, 19–20; Isa.

54:5–7; Jer.

2:2; Matt.

25:1–13).

The prophets often speak of Israel as the wife of Yahweh (Isa.

49:18; 54:5–6; 62:5; Jer.

2:2; Ezek.

16:15–63; Hos.

2:14–23).

Negatively, Israel’s unfaithfulness is compared to the adultery of an unfaithful wife (Jer.

3:20; Ezek.

16:15–63; Hos.

2:1–13; 4:12, 15).

Yet God remains faithful and plans to restore his bride under the new covenant (e.g., Isa.

62:1–5; Ezek.

16:60–63; Hos.

2:16–20).

It makes sense that Jesus portrays himself as the bridegroom (Mark 2:19–20; John 3:29) and the church as the bride of Christ (2 Cor.

11:2; Eph.

5:25–33; Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 9; 22:17).

The language of bride and bridegroom communicates God’s perfect love for his people and anticipates our joyous, intimate experience of the personal presence of God in the new creation.

The marriage metaphor also conveys deep emotional security and assurance for Christians currently suffering persecution and abuse under evil human rulers.

Of all the images YHWH could have used to describe the eternal state, why a wedding supper?

It’s because throughout Scripture the marriage metaphor depicts God’s relationship with his people like no other image.

The OT prophets often speak of Israel as the wife of YHWH.

Negatively, Israel’s unfaithfulness is compared to the adultery of an unfaithful wife.

Yet God remains faithful still and plans to restore his bride under the new covenant.

It makes sense then when Jesus portrays himself as the bridegroom in the Gospels (; ) and the church as the bride of Christ (; ; ; , ; ).

The language of bride and bridegroom communicates God’s perfect love for his people and anticipates our joyous, intimate experience of the personal presence of God in the new creation.

The marriage metaphor also conveys deep emotional security and assurance for Christians currently suffering persecution and abuse under evil human rulers.

The Wedding Supper of the Lamb

The wedding supper of the Lamb (also called the “messianic wedding banquet”) is the future fellowship celebration of God with his people in the new creation.

As the divine husband, God promised his bride a lavish banquet celebrating his defeat of her enemies and his abundant provision.

A key Old Testament passage is Isaiah 25:6–9, which describes the rich feast God will provide.

Jesus also speaks of a wedding banquet in his consummated kingdom (e.g., Matt.

8:11; 22:1–14; 25:1–13; Luke 13:29; 14:16–24).

Even the promise Jesus makes to his disciples at the Last Supper assumes the coming reunion banquet: “I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matt.

26:29).

The wedding supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19:9 likely points forward to the more complete description of the new heaven and new earth in Revelation 21–22.

This eternal celebration of God’s people stands in contrast to the “great supper of God,” where the birds consume the dead bodies of God’s enemies (19:17–18, 21; Ezek.

39:17–20).

Overall, the image of a wedding supper conveys the personal, intimate, joyous time of fellowship that God is preparing for his people.

So we have the why, but what is it?

The Wedding Supper of the Lamb

What is it?

The wedding supper of the Lamb (also called the “messianic wedding banquet”) is the future fellowship celebration of God with his people in the new creation.

As the divine husband, God promised his bride a lavish banquet celebrating his defeat of her enemies and his abundant provision.

A key Old Testament passage is , which describes the rich feast God will provide.

Jesus also speaks though the Gospels of a wedding banquet in his consummated kingdom.

Even the promise Jesus makes to his disciples at the Last Supper assumes the coming reunion banquet: ().

The wedding supper of the Lamb in points forward to the more complete description of the new heaven and new earth in chapters 21–22.

This eternal celebration of God’s people stands in contrast to the “great supper of God,” where the birds consume the dead bodies of God’s enemies (19:17–18, 21; ).

Transition:

Overall, the image of a wedding supper conveys the personal, intimate, joyous time of fellowship that God is preparing for his people.

So let’s look together at what John is seeing

I.

The great multitude sings of the Bride & Groom 19:6–8)

The roar of the great multitude in 19:1 praising Yahweh (“Hallelujah”) for judging the wicked city now expands to an even louder and deeper roar of praise to God as he begins his universal reign

The great multitude sings the hallelujah chorus (19:6–8)

19:6 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.”

The roar of the great multitude in 19:1 praising Yahweh (“Hallelujah”) for judging the wicked city now expands to an even louder and deeper roar of praise to God as he begins his universal reign (cf.

1:15; 14:2–3; cf.

7:9–17; ; ; ).1 God’s sovereign reign will become a visible reality at the end of the age, a theme already proclaimed in 11:15: “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.’

” The praise of “our Lord God Almighty” (cf.

1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22) emphasizes the personal (“our”) and powerful nature of God in contrast to the empty boasts of tyrannical rulers such as Domitian, who demanded the title “Our Lord and God” (Suetonius, Domitian 13).

God’s sovereign reign will become a visible reality at the end of the age, a theme already proclaimed in 11:15: “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.’

” The praise of “our Lord God Almighty” emphasizes the personal (“our”) and powerful nature of God in contrast to the empty boasts of tyrannical rulers such as Domitian, who demanded the title “Our Lord and God”.

God’s sovereign reign will become a visible reality at the end of the age, a theme already proclaimed in 11:15: “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.’

” The praise of “our Lord God Almighty” emphasizes the personal (“our”) and powerful nature of God in contrast to the empty boasts of tyrannical rulers such as Domitian, who demanded the title “Our Lord and God”.

Illustration:

Believers carry a deep longing for God to establish his universal reign

Take food for example: Pick up a menu from your favorite local restaurant.

Open the menu and describe a few of the dishes you love best.

Kind of makes your mouth water, doesn’t it?

Your stomach begins to rumble, and you are ready to try it.

Sometimes, anticipation is one of the best parts of a good meal.

As believers, we can cultivate hunger for the things of God.

Throughout Scripture, especially here in Revelation, we are given vivid pictures of life in the kingdom.

We’re called to cultivate a hunger for this day.

God’s people are called to rejoice, be glad, and give God glory because of the arrival of the Lamb’s wedding, a centerpiece of the universal reign of God.

In keeping with Jewish wedding customs, the time of betrothal was followed by the wedding proper.

Illustration:

(Interestingly, the verb “ready/prepare” is used seven times in Revelation to emphasize how God is working out his sovereign plan: chapters 8; 9; 12; 16; here in 19; and finally 21:2.)

Believers carry a deep longing for God to establish his universal reign

Food: Pick up a menu from your favorite local restaurant.

Open the menu and describe a few of the dishes you love best.

Kind of makes your mouth water, doesn’t it?

Your stomach begins to rumble, and you are ready to try it.

Sometimes, anticipation is one of the best parts of a good meal.

As believers, we can cultivate hunger for the things of God.

Throughout Scripture, especially here in Revelation, we are given vivid pictures of life in the kingdom.

We’re called to cultivate a hunger for this day.

In our day, many people have distorted what marriage is, understanding it as a legal coupling of convenience that allows people to qualify for certain benefits or formalize an already-existing living arrangement.