Revelation Sermon - 45

Lars Janssen

Revelation Series • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

0 ratings

· 2 views

Notes

Transcript

Revelation: Praise the Lord!

Revelation 19:1-5

1. Introduction – My intention at the beginning of the week was to study vv1-10 of this chapter.

a. But as I was studying, I realized that the content of these verses is so important 1 sermon simply wouldn’t do them justice.

i. 3 sermons and we’re probably just scratching the surface. 10 sermons might. Since there is so much important information in here, we’re going to take our time. No rush. Let’s take our time so we understand what’s going on here.

1. We’ll start today, look at vv.1-5, next week we’ll look at vv6-10, the week after, we might come back to vv.6-10 because they are THAT good.

b. We’re in the home stretch of our study through Revelation – not only because we’re in the 19th chapter of a 22-chapter book.

i. But we’re in the home stretch because the action is picking up. If you’ve read through Revelation in its entirety, maybe you noticed that as soon as you hit chapter 19, the action in the rest of the letter happens at a rapid-fire pace.

1. Anticipation is building very quickly.

a. And even though things are happening quickly, that doesn’t mean we should simply rush to the end in an effort to finish this study.

i. There’s some really important information in these chapters, so potentially confusing information here – so… we’re going to take our time, we are going to savour these moments and, to the best of our ability, we’ll seek to understand what is written here.

1. So let’s dive in and look at what this text says, means and how it applies today.

2. After This – This section as a whole, vv.1-10 simultaneously fulfills 2 functions.

a. It is a transition section – in that it concludes that preceding passage about Babylon’s destruction, but it also looks forward to the next section about Jesus’ return.

i. The paragraph starts… “After This…” after what?

1. After the destruction of Babylon the Great… after the songs of lament sung by the kings, the merchants and the sailors…

a. John has seen a vision of evil’s destruction, and in just a little bit he will see a vision of Christ’s return…

i. But in this section John hears the voice of a great multitude signing praises.

ii. The voices here are answering the call of 18:20 where it says, “Rejoice o heaven and people of God…”

1. They were told to, so now they are doing so.

b. And this is another example of Revelation comparing and contrasting the 2 groups of people in this world.

i. Throughout the course of this Revelation – we’ve seen the fate and eternal destinies of believers contrasted with the eternal destiny of those who belong to this world.

1. For the believer – eternal worship around God’s throne…

a. For those who belong to this world…eternal conscious torment in the lake of fire.

ii. For the believer – hardship and persecution during life on this earth, but perfect peace and rest for eternity…

1. Contrast that with the people who belong to this world…a life of relative ease now, but an eternity spent separated from God.

c. Throughout the course of this book, Revelation holds these 2 groups up beside each other and asks the question – which one do you choose?

i. Who has your allegiance? Who or what do you worship?

1. Take note, the songs of Revelation 19 stand in stark contrast to the songs of Revelation 18.

a. Last week we studied 3 laments…3 funeral dirges.

i. The kings, the merchants and the sailors all stood back, they all lamented their own personal loss.

1. All singing “Woe, Woe” … How terrible this is.

a. But contrast that with the words we just read.

3. Hallelujah – We read the same phrase 4 times in 5 verses this morning…the phrase is “Praise the Lord!”

a. This phrase comes from one of the few Hebrew words that is used in our English vocabulary today. Our phrase, “Praise the Lord” comes from famous Hebrew word, “Hallelujah!”

i. It is a popular word – Christ the Lord is risen today – Alleluia.

1. All Creatures of our God and King… O sing ye, Alleluia.

a. However, given its popularity, I found it surprising to learn that this word, Hallelujah, is only found in 2 books of the Bible.

b. 24 times the word is found in the book of Psalms. It introduces many Psalms – 113-118 are called the “Hallel Psalms” – because the phrase its repeated constantly throughout those Psalms.

i. Psalms 146-150 start the same way. In fact, Psalm 150 starts and ends with the word “Hallelujah!”

1. This Hebrew word, Hallelujah – is a combination of 2 words. Hallel means “praise” or “You praise.”

a. Yah – is a short form of YHWH, God’s covenant and holy name.

i. Put them together and you get “Hallelujah!” Praise the Lord, Praise YHWH.

c. So, why does this word, this phrase…why does it show up here in Revelation?

i. Well, there’s a connection between the Psalms and Revelation.

1. As mentioned, Pss113-118 are called the Hallel Psalms, each beginning with or repeating the word “hallelujah!”

a. The Hallel Psalms were most often sung at Passover. The once a year celebration where Israel remembers that God delivered them from slavery with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

i. These Psalms recount God’s faithfulness, God’s mighty acts, and God’s deliverance from oppressive forces.

d. Sung at Passover, Psalms 113-114 were sung before the meal and 115-118 were sung after.

i. As an aside – in Mark’s Gospel, we’re told that after the Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples, after he instituted the Lord’s Supper, but BEFORE they all went to the Mount of Olives…

1. We’re told that they sung a song together. Ever wonder what that song might be?

a. As rousing rendition of “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” or “Jesus Keep me Near the Cross?” When I Survey the Wondrous Cross???

i. Nope – they would have sung one of or all of Psalms 115-118. Aside over.

e. Here’s why all this background information is important – the thread that runs through the Hallel Psalms of 113-118 is God delivering Israel form captivity in Egypt.

i. And this celebration gave birth to the hope, and it was fueled by the prophets – that one day God would deliver his people from captivity again…from exile in Babylon.

1. Are you starting to see why the fourfold Hallelujah comes where it does in Revelation?

a. In Revelation 17&18 – John recounts a vision of the fall of Babylon – the great city.

i. John described the fall of the power that opposes God’s purposes and oppresses God’s people…

1. And just like God’s people did in the past, in the presence of God’s deliverance, God’s people sing, “Hallelujah!”

a. Isn’t that reason enough to sing?

f. Hallelujah – sung at Passover celebrating the deliverance of God’s people from Egypt.

i. Hallelujah, sung now because a new meal is at hand, one we’ll look at next week – a feast that celebrates the greater deliverance won through the blood of the Lamb.

1. Can you feel the thrill in the voice of the multitude? Hallelujah! Not sung with straight faces, arms fold or hands in pockets…

a. Hallelujah…Praise the Lord – sung like the mean it. And given what has transpired in the previous visions, why shouldn’t they mean it.

4. Why Praise – So we’ve spent some serious time looking at and trying to understand the background and meaning of the phrase “Praise the Lord!”

a. Now, I want to shift your attention to the why. Why Praise the Lord.

i. Vv.1-2 give many reasons to worship God. First it says, salvation, glory and power belong to him.

1. We should spend a lifetime fleshing out the meaning, implication and significance of God’s salvation, glory and power.

a. The verse reminds us that we are saved only God extending his offer of grace and salvation through Jesus to us.

i. We are delivered from evil because God works out his promised deliverance.

b. All glory belongs to God. In the past few chapters we’ve seen that Babylon the great sough to glorify itself…and we saw where that lead.

i. Only God is worthy to receive glory. I want to do a quick word study.

1. In Hebrew, the word for glory is kabod – it means weightiness.

a. In Greek the word for glory is doxa – it means to highly esteem.

ii. So think about that in terms of God. He is our highest esteem – the thing we hold nearest and dearest.

1. God is weighty. Some people think God is inconsequential to life – but at the end of time they are going to have an encounter with the weightiness of God.

a. Glory, all glory – belongs to God, our highest esteem, and the true heavyweight.

c. And God is powerful. He is strong enough to fulfill his promises.

i. V.2 goes on to say that God’s judgments are true and just. Again, notice that the focus is on justice…not punishment.

1. God is not capricious or vengeful in his wrath. But he exercises perfect judgment according to his law.

a. He has avenged the murder of his people. Remember back in chapter 6…it was a long time ago so I don’t blame if you don’t… Back when we opened the 6th seal – we heard the cry of the martyrs from under the altar… “How long, O LORD???”

i. How long until you avenge our deaths?

1. Now, look at 19:2 – very specific wording, “Now, he has avenged…”

a. God has heard their cry, and answered them.

5. Response – Now, as we proceed, I want you to take note of the geography.

a. John hears the loud voice of a vast multitude… and in response we see the circle of praise gets smaller…

i. The 24 elders and the 4 living beings respond and ad their agreement to the song.

1. We’ve seen this kind of movement before – only in the opposite direction.

a. In chapters 4,5&7, we saw an ever-widening circle of praise.

i. The 4 living beings start, the 24 elders joined in, the heavenly host added their voices, finally all of creation sang out in praise to God – the worship had reached a fevered pitch.

b. But here – we start big – where we left off… the vast multitude, in response we go smaller – 24 elders and 4 living beings – and soon, we’ll be right back to where all of these crazy visions started…focusing once again on the throne of God!

i. The 24 elders are the angelic counterparts to the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles of the early church.

1. They signify the entirety of God’s people in history.

a. The 4 living beings represent the submission of all creation.

i. Therefore, a response from the 24 elders and 4 living beings is a hymn of praise to God from the whole church and all of nature.

1. It’s like heaven and nature are singing!

c. They don’t add any new content to the song, but simply add their agreement.

i. Amen means “so be it” and they repeat the refrain of the section – Amen, Hallelujah!

6. From the Throne – And then a voice from the throne is heard.

a. The circle of praise ends where it starts…but it only gets smaller for a second, because the call goes out… “Praise our God, all his servants.”

i. Who is this call to? Just the heavenly host? Just the 24 elders and 4 living beings? Who is this call to? It’s a call to us!

1. It’s a reminder for us that our main purpose in life is to praise the Lord. Our main purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

a. This whole passage is a reminder to us of who to worship and how to worship him.

b. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Praise Our God all of his servants. No matter who you are or what you do – Praise the Lord.

i. Praise him through your worship, your service and your reverent obedience.

1. So often our worship and especially our prayers are very “me” focused.

a. We sing about the benefits WE receive and all the blessings I have received.

i. Or when we pray, we immediately pray with our shopping list of requests in hand.

ii. And while there is absolutely nothing wrong with singing about our personal benefits – it is wonderful to sing to God out of a grateful heart for what he has done… God also wants us to present our requests before him…

1. But this passage reminds us that we also must worship God and give praise to him simply because of who he is – regardless of ourselves.

a. Praise him for his deliverance and salvation, praise him for his glory and his power and his fair justice.

i. When you pray – instead of jumping into your request list – start by hallowing God’s name – just as Jesus taught us to pray. Not by simply repeated the words, “Hallowed be your name…”

1. But by praising God’s holy name, praising him for his mighty acts.

a. Praise him for his glorious and holy attributes – gracious and merciful, slow to anger – abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

c. This is the example we receive in 19:1-5 – Praise the Lord – praise him for his salvation, his weightiness, his power, his true and fair judgments…can you add your Amen Hallelujah to that???

7. Next Week – Next week we’re going to study 19:6-10. I’m already excited for this message.

a. The content is incredible to think about, and when we open it up, when we study it and seek to understand it…

i. We’ll have a totally renewed understanding of the church.

1. It’s an incredible passage – rich in meaning and background…

a. In preparation read vv.6-10 – and when you come next week, be prepared for your heart to be filled with gratitude and expectation.