In The Word
Read: Revelation 18:21—19:10
21 Then a strong angel picked up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will never be found again. 22 And the sound of harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again; and no craftsman of any craft will ever be found in you again; and the sound of a mill will never be heard in you again; 23 and the light of a lamp will never shine in you again; and the voice of the groom and bride will never be heard in you again; for your merchants were the powerful people of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your witchcraft.24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”
The Fourfold Hallelujah
19 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,2 because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great prostitute who was corrupting the earth with her sexual immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her.” 3 And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises forever and ever.” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And a voice came from the throne, saying,
“Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Marriage of the Lamb
7 Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he *said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’” And he *said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he *said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brothers and sisters who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Following the enormous destruction of the nation called “Babylon,” there will be a great celebration in Heaven. All of heaven will praise God for ending immorality and avenging the deaths of martyred Christians. Everyone around God’s throne will bow down in worship and declare His greatness. John described the tremendous volume of the many voices singing and shouting as raging water and loud thunder. The voices declare that the time for marriage of the Lamb has come because the bride of Christ, the church, has made herself ready.
The angel told John, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). Many people assume that the next, automatic step after death is to go to Heaven. That is untrue! Only Christians, those individuals who have accepted God’s invitation, will be there for the great wedding feast.
Moreover, it is not enough to be at the Lamb’s wedding, but you must be dressed properly, just as a bride makes sure her wedding dress is clean and ready for her wedding day. “His bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:7-8). Are you dressed properly? If your “wedding clothes” are stained by sin, cry out to God in confession of your sins so that you may be forgiven and made clean again. Make yourself ready because the Lord is coming soon!