Faith Baptist Church
4258 Botetourt Road
Fincastle, Virginia 24090
(540) 473-2325
In our last two messages we looked at some of the differences between God’s program for Israel and his program for the Church. We looked at the principle of faith in relation to gaining salvation as being the same in all dispensations. God imputes his righteousness to everyone that accepts Jesus Christ as Savior. The Old Testament saints looked forward in faith, and we look back in the same faith to Jesus Christ. In an instant we go from being spiritually lost vagabonds to saved righteous victors in Christ.
Today let’s look closer at our passage.
v.7
The setting in Rev.19 is that of the Lord in heaven prior to his second advent. His church is seen with him. At that time we will have been in heaven with the Lord for seven years.
We will be rejoicing and giving honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, translated, has come at last, as noted by the Aorist tense of [elthen].
The marriage of the Lamb takes place in heaven. This spiritual union is a picture of the eternal relationship all New Testament believers have with the Lord. The body of Christ is the church. However, the [physical kingdom] of Jesus Christ refers to his Millennial Reign over restored Israel.
We are seen as ready. This means our works have been tried as per I Cor.3:9-15.
Gal.6:9 tells us to not be weary in well doing, that we will reap if we have sown to the Lord in living a faithful Christian life. This is how we make ourselves ready to present ourselves to the Lord, by faithfulness now while we are still here in time, Jude 20-21.
It is not a works for salvation attempt; it is a works because we are saved appreciation.
I am troubled by some believers who are ignoring this admonition because the day is coming when we will all stand before the judgment Throne of Christ. Rom.13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Rom.14:12 “So, then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
The omnipresence and omniscience of the God-Man, Jesus Christ makes it possible for him to judge each New Testament believer at the same time. Obviously some saints will take longer to judge since some believers have served more faithfully. He will leave nothing uncovered so as to bring out as many blessings as he can to reflect his glory in each believer. Remember, this is not a judgment of sin as Christ has already been judged for our sins. This is a judgment of our Christian works. Our motivations as well as our obedience to his word will be judged.
v.8
The Church [born again New Testament believers only] is seen arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; why is the garment we wear clean and white? “...for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.”
Linen was the material of which the priests’ garments were made. It was the material worn by royalty. Since the church is a royal priesthood, I Pet.2:9 it is only fitting we should wear fine linen, clean and white.
II Cor.11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
The imparting of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation is the engagement ring [the earnest of the Spirit] Eph.1:13-14.
The picture of the relationship we have with Christ is put in the context of a marriage where both are pure at the altar. It is only a picture, but is symbolizes devotion and faithfulness.
Once the believer’s works are judged by the fire of God’s word, and all human righteous good is skimmed off the top, [hay wood and stubble, I Cor.3:12 and the divine good God performed through us is reflected, gold silver and precious stone] then we will stand in perfection, not just in our position in Christ, but in our eternal walk with him.
The phrase, “...the righteousness of the saints” is peculiar. The Greek usage here, dikaiomata, refers to the righteous deeds of the believer. This garment will bear the citations earned by the individual believer at the judgment seat of Christ, a judgment that takes place in the third heavens while the tribulation period is going on here on the earth.
We have a 17 part series on eternal rewards in our Categorical Studies Series. CS1 tapes 1-17.
These citation / rewards are dependent on the grace of God to bless those who reflect his character and perform his will in time. Once we leave this earth our time is up for earning eternal rewards.
As it is now when we sin we stain our garments, and we must, as necessary, use confession, I Jn.1:9 to allow the Father to cleanse us.
After we are with the Lord we will sin no more and we will have no more need for confession.
We will never again be angry at ourselves for sinning. We will no longer despise ourselves when we miss the mark of God’s righteous standards.
v.9
The Church is seen ready to return to the earth with Christ and now in v.9 the next prophetic event for the Church and our relationship with Christ is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
This event is described in Luke 14:23-24. Going out into the highways and byways and compelling folks to come to the marriage supper as this passage describes is not a call for us today to go out and coerce folks into the church. This is not evangelism. Evangelism is telling people about Jesus Christ coming to this world and dying for their sins; sins which must be removed before God can have an eternal relationship with them. The local church welcomes those whom the Spirit of the Lord compels to seek spiritual guidance. But the Church consists of those already saved. The saved are called out by God, and they have responded with a positive acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior.
Now, the Marriage Supper will occur (1) after the battle of Armageddon and (2) after the judgment of the nations.
When these events are over, and Christ is ready to establish his kingdom he will invite all saints to come and enjoy this Marriage Supper. Old Testament saints will have been resurrected and glorified with the tribulation martyrs. Physically living persons, who come out of the seven year tribulation period, who were eligible, and did receive Christ as Savior, will attend this royal ball, and of course Jesus Christ and his Church will be the honored guests.
But those [goats] who reject Christ, both Jew and Gentile, will be cast into Hades until the end of the tribulation period, Matt.25:31-33, 41-46, until all the lost, from Cain on up through time, are called up to the Great White Throne for final sentencing into the Lake of Fire which burns forever and ever, Rev.20:14. The judgment of all unsaved takes place 1,000 years later prior to the creation of the New Heavens and the New Earth.
v10.
When John heard this he fell at the feet to worship this angel, and as we have said before God will have us bow down to no one but himself.
The angel says to John to stop it and stand up like a fellow servant of the Lord; worship only God. To worship is to adore the infinite worth of God.
The highest form of worship is not feeling, but thought and specifically imitating God’s thoughts. This is why we are supposed to worship God every day. We cannot do this if we have not learned his thoughts through his word. Until then we do as the Athenians did on Mars Hill in Acts 17:23; we worship an Unknown God. You see, worship is public in the local church, but it is personal in our homes and our thoughts.
The testimony of Jesus Christ is demonstrated through the prophetic word. He will keep his word as it is forever settled in heaven.