SCRIPTURE: Revelation 19:1-10
OBSERVATION:
The roar of a great multitude (19:1-8) Imagine people living under oppression and injustice FINALLY experiencing freedom. Think of hostages or prisoners of war finally being rescued. Or of the citizens of many towns and cities in Europe after the Allies drove out the Nazi occupiers. There would be huge celebrations, a roar of a great multitude! Shouting, singing, dancing, weeping for joy, thanking their liberator. This is the picture presented here.
The wedding supper of the Lamb (19:6-9) In Jewish communities a wedding was a huge celebration. Couples pledged to each other now publicly fulfilled their vows and the people partied. Jesus is described as a lamb, a symbol for Jews of God’s promise to love and forgive His people, to remove the barrier of sin between them. This new relationship was often seen as a wedding (see Ezekiel 16:1-14, esp v.8).
Worship God (19:10) God uses many messengers to get His message out, but sometimes those messengers upstage God, and the people are quick to venerate the messenger. God is behind all messengers, His message is what matters, not the messenger. Behind the prophets and their testimonies is the voice of Jesus, Who is the voice of God. Its all about God, He gets the credit, He is in control. Worship Him!
APPLICATION:
I am a messenger of hope, my task is to point people to Jesus, Who is God with us, and to remind them of His power, His presence, His purpose, His promise. For now I am all that people may see and hear, but I should not upstage Him. At the end of the day, He will be the Bridegroom, and we will (like a Jewish bride) celebrate His coming. Am I looking forward to the end, when Jesus comes and makes everything “very good” again? Or am I too comfortable in this life? Will I celebrate the end of the rule of the spiritual Nazi’s occupying God’s world (and my life), or am I collaborator, working with and enjoying their presence, and the perks I receive from them? On liberation day, the collaborators did not celebrate, they ran, they hid.
PRAYER:
Lord, I realize that I am often too comfortable with sin and evil, the spiritual presence that occupies Your world and my heart. Open my eyes to see how ugly it is, and fill me with longing for You, and for Your world, Your kingdom. Amen.