Title [Rev 19:1-21] Blessed Bride
A woman can be happy only if she gets married well. Men do too. This chapter introduces the best groom and testifies to the happiness of the bride-to-be.
The Bible expresses the relationship between Christ and the saints in various ways. Shepherd and sheep, tree and branch, master and servant, head and body, parents and children, brother and sister, groom and bride. Among the expressions, the relationship between the groom and the bride is the most meaningful.
① It indicates the existence of extreme love. The Lord loves us, even to the point of death. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his love for us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Also in Ephesians 5:25, Paul said, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.” How many of us love enough to give their lives for their wives? Let's not forget that the saints are happy people who have received Christ, who laid down their lives, as their bridegroom.
② It refers to becoming one body. Marriage is the ceremony that binds two people together. Matthew 19:6 (Mark 10:9) says, “Therefore, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no man can separate.” It means that the Lord and we have become inseparable. Just as there can be no Christian life without the Lord, the Lord knows that we are inseparable from our brides. The promise that we will always be with you until the end of the world is a meaningful promise in that respect.
③ It refers to the fact that we all share a blessed life. It means that we participate in the glory of the Lord, the work of government, and the blessings of heaven, and enjoy the blessings together. A few days ago, I saw the First Lady accompanying the leaders of the Asia and Pacific region in Busan. Many women must have been envious of meeting the groom and enjoying that glory. In verse 16 of the text, it is said, “King of kings and Lord of lords”, how will the happiness of the saints who will receive Jesus as their bridegroom be? Please do not forget that we will also enjoy all the blessings of heaven that Jesus will enjoy.
2. The priests, the saints, were to wear shiny and clean linen (8).
In verses 7-8, it says, “The marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made preparations, and he has granted her to put on a bright and clean linen, which is the right conduct of the saints.” Shiny, clean linen is the bridal robe. You cannot participate in the wedding feast without this robe. There are robes we need to prepare. It is none other than “righteous deeds”. It is an act of faith and an act of obedience to the Word of God. It includes all acts of preaching the gospel, of serving the Lord (the church), and of all acts of the Lord. There are people who go to church and behave worse than unbelievers. There are sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters, and lovers of lies. They cannot participate in the heavenly banquet (Revelation 22:15) Let's prepare the bride's robes every day and wait for the wedding day.
3. It shows the majesty of the Lamb who is the bridegroom.
There are several evidences in the text about the bridegroom riding a white horse.
① He said his name was Loyalty, Truth, and the Word of God. You can find out what this name means. Loyalty means that you have fulfilled your mission. He completed the work of redemption for mankind by dying on the cross. Jesus died with the words “It is finished”. Truth means that all of God's promises and witnesses are not false. It is necessary to live a life that is sure that everything will be fulfilled according to the written word. The word of God is the word tested in John 1:1. It means that he is God. God created all things with the word, and the work of redemption is being accomplished through the word. Let's become believers who know and give thanks to the bridegroom who has this name.
② His appearance was like flame eyes, a head with a crown, a mouth with a sharp sword, and clothes sprinkled with blood. And he came out proudly on a white horse, and the heavenly army rode after him. He is equipped with majesty as the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is not the appearance of being despised before the priests, being judged before Pilate, and being taken away by Roman soldiers with a weak and humble appearance.
③ The ministry is said to rule the enemies with a rod of iron, capture the beasts and false prophets, who are their chieftains, and throw them alive into the lake of burning brimstone (15-21). In front of God's holy work of judging and chasing God's enemies, the enemies of the church, we cannot help but praise and give thanks (1-2). Let us not fall into the temptations of the beast, that is, the devil, and let us not fall into the tricks of false prophets who deceive them with miracles. Let's become holy brides who keep our position with patience, hoping for the eternal heaven where we will live with Jesus as our bridegroom.