CH 19 Revelation is not as weird as you might think

Session 10, part one – Chapter 19

John’s visions in the final chapters of Revelation (19-22) reveal a set of relationships that help explain God’s purpose in redeeming and restoring His creation

Old testament world view – God is a covenant God – God who works through relationships

- The progress of redemption begins with creation and contracts to one faithful covenant partner – Jesus Christ

- It then expands until all creation is caught up in God’s recreation of humanity and ultimately a new heaven and earth

Chapter 19 – 22 -> John will, in turn, resolve each relationship in terms of God’s redemptive purpose

Church “bride” / elect World “nations”

World “nations” Israel “God’s city”

Church “bride” / elect Israel “God’s city”

4-fold “Hallelujah!” -> Praise the Lord!

1. “Salvation and glory and power belong to our God”

- Celebrating righteous judgement against Babylon

- Blood of servants avenged

2. “our Lord God almighty reigns”

3. The wedding of the Lamb has come

- Lamb (bridegroom) & bride

- Bride -> ready, bright and clean, clothed in righteous acts

- Blessed are those invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb

Heaven and earth

- Entry of earthly church into heavenly state as a bride of Christ – heavens perspective on the Church

- “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”

-> The testimony of Jesus is a revelation of Jesus’ words and actions in heaven

-> The spirit of prophecy is the communication of God’s heart for his people on the Earth

Attention shifts to the Bridegroom - Rider on a white horse

- True conqueror, faithful & true

- Judges and makes war

- Imagery recalls chapter 1

- Battle – manifest victory -> earth will see heavenly reality

CHAPTER 19 – The day of the Lord - one event from two sides

- saving & judging, wedding & battle

- Another invitation to gather together for the great supper of God (v17-18)

- Imagery encourages readers to consider these two ‘feasts’ in parallel

OT pictures of Armageddon

Joel 3

- Gathering of the nations for battle against Israel follows the pictures of the restoration of Zion in Ch 2

- Enemies think they are gathering for war but they are being gathered for judgement (consequence for how they related to Israel)

- “then you will know” – vindication of God’s righteousness

- Unveiling to Israel – The Lord will be seen as a faithful deliverer and ‘refuge for His people’

- Final unveiling for enemies– not for repentance, but for wrath

Ezekiel 38-39

- Ch 37 – ‘Valley of Dry Bones – the promise of the resurrection of Israel, Kingdom restored to the land, and poured out spirit

- Same pattern as Joel – an unveiling for both Israel and the nations

- God’s purpose is to “show Himself holy before their eyes”

- Nations will know His Lordship in their defeat and destruction

- Israel will know His Lordship in His faithful deliverance of His people

Questions

1. How does the story of redemption through history that the bible presents help us to make sense of God’s purpose in restoring all things?

2. In what ways are the wedding and the final battle two sides to the unveiling of the day of the Lord?

3. As Christians, how can knowing the person of the Bridegroom & the Great Conqueror encourage us to live in the power and intimacy of His life now?