A REAL ROYAL WEDDING
       Revelation 19:1-10             

Introduction:     Here is a change from the somber to the song.  Two scenes are in view in this chapter.  (1) Joy in Heaven. (2) Judgment on the earth.  Two suppers are in view also.  (1) The marriage supper of the Lamb, v.9; (2) The great supper of the great God v.17.This chapter opens with the hallelujahs of Heaven ringing and closes with Hell opened. 

  I.        PROCEEDED BY CELEBRATION

Amen and Hallelujah - Words given to us to help us worship God.  These are heavenly words. These words are pronounced and translated the same in every language. These words should be used to praise God. Amen - A word of ascent and agreement to the Word of God. Hallelujah - Used in one place in NT.  It gives glory to the Lamb! We need to be about his business of praising God!  Some people think they are dignified, but they are real petrified!  It is in perfect order to respond in the services!  Amen!  ( Ill. Hallelujah Chorus - Alright to sing it, but it would scare everyone to death if someone said it, or even worse if they shouted it! There are four Hallelujahs that ring out in Heaven

A.        The Hallelujah Of Redemption -v.1&5

Praise to God for all that He has done for them.  ( Ill. Cross, Grave, Blood!)  Hallelujah!  (Ill. Billy Bray and Cornish people - “My right foot says Hallelujah and my left says Amen!”)  Praise God that we are all different.

            B.         The Hallelujah Of Retribution - v.2-3
Praise the Lord for His unerring judgment.  Hallelujah! (Ill. God makes no mistake in judgment!)

            C.        The Hallelujah Of Realization - v.4

24 prostrate, again, before God.  ( Ill. Redeemed of God!) When we finally get the Heaven, we’ll be all God saved us to be!  Hallelujah!

            D.        The Hallelujah Of The Reign Of Christ - v.6
Praise God for the day when Jesus will reign! (Hallelujah!)

 II.        PROTECTED BY CONSUMMATION (VV.7-10)

            A.        A Plan

2 Things will follow the rapture for the saints of God.  (1) The Judgment Seat of Christ.  (2) The festival of the marriage supper. Rapture - Catch us up! Judgment Seat - Clean us up! Marriage Supper - Cheer us up! ( Ill. The oriental background for the marriage supper.)

·        Betrothal - engagement. ( Ill. Differences)  (Ill. Spouse usually chosen by parents!  There is a danger here!) (We are married now!) (Our day!)

B.         A Presentation

·        Presentation - The bridegroom and His friends would go and get the bride and take her to the home that he had prepared for them.  There, gifts would be exchanged.

·        The Festival - The length and lavishness of his marriage celebration would depend on the wealth of the bridegroom. The Marriage Supper

·        The Centrality Of The Bridegroom - v.7 - (Ill. Bride is usually foremost!)( Ill.   Society page, parties, showers, “Here Comes The Bride”; The groom is totally unimportant!)  In Heaven, Jesus is the center of attention!

·        The Coming Of The Bride - v.7 - ( Ill. The Bride’s preparations!) ( Ill. The need to keep ourselves clean!  We make our own wedding garments!)  ( Ill. Inner and outer garments - the tunic and the toga!)

C.        A Preparation

·        Righteousness Explained - v.8

o       Personal - (Isa 64:6) "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

o       Provided - (2 Cor 5:21 ) "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (Rom 3:21-22)  "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; {22} Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"

o       Practical - (Ill. Hope chests - The Bride made her own dresses!)  The outer garment will be of our own making, the inner garment will be made by God!

III.       PUNCTUATED BY CONTINUATION (VV. 9-20:4)

            A.        The Glory Of The Wedding Supper (v.9)

            B.         The Groom Of The Wedding Supper (vv.10-20:4)

(Luke 12:37)  "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them."

Conclusion:       Comment on verses 9-10.  Those who go are indeed blessed!  Are you going to be there?  Only if you know Jesus! ( Ill. The fate of those lacking a wedding garment!  Matt. 22:1-13)