Before I begin today’s sermon, I have a confession to make. I have to tell you something about myself that I have never told you before. Most of you would probably never guess this about me, but have to tell you anyway. So here it goes: I Love Weddings! I love everything about weddings. And I suppose this is a good thing, because as a pastor, I perform a lot of them.
Before the ceremony, I love to laugh at the groomsmen as they stand around and try to figure out how to pin a boutonniere to their tuxedo, until a woman comes along and does it for them. I love seeing the couple’s family members gather together, even the strange ones that they never thought would show up, but had to invite because they are family. I love to see the nervous look on the groom’s face, when just seconds before it is time to walk onto the platform, and I ask him, “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”
During the ceremony, I love hearing the familiar notes of Pachabel’s Canon playing on the piano as the bridesmaids glide to their places, flowers in hand. I love to see the cute little ring bearer and flower girl doing their best to fulfill their responsibilities and walk in a straight line at the same time. I love watching the groom’s face light up as the bride walks down the aisle in a radiant gown and a hair-do that took four hours to make. I love to hear the bride and groom declare their love and make their vows to one another. I love to watch those big teardrops run down the mother’s cheeks as they say to themselves, “I’m losing my baby.” I love to see the smiles on the father’s faces as they say to themselves, “I don’t have to pay for them anymore.”
After the ceremony, I love attending the reception. I love the hors ‘devours, the cocktails, and the mingling with guests, and I especially love when the Master of Ceremonies says “The bridal party has finally finished their photographs and dinner will begin in a few minutes.” I love watching the newlyweds so elegantly cut their cake and then smash it in each other’s faces like a great demolition derby of butter cream icing. I love the listening to the toasts, watching the dancing, and taking in the whole celebration.
Like I said, “I love weddings!” How about you? Can you remember the last wedding you attended? What did you love about that wedding?
It is interesting to think about the fact that every culture in the world has some sort of wedding custom or tradition, and it has been this way for thousands of years. In biblical times, wedding celebrations typically lasted a week. We remember that even our Lord Jesus attended a wedding in the village of Cana, where he performed his first miracle—changing water into wine. Although wedding customs differ in different places, they all have at least three things in common: a commitment, a ceremony, and a celebration.
Since weddings are some the greatest celebrations on earth, it is no surprise that Jesus’ return to earth is depicted as a wedding celebration. After Revelation 18 gave us a glimpse of the funeral for civilization—that is the future collapse of the world political/economic/religious system, Revelation 19:1-10 shows us the great wedding for the Lamb.
A Wedding Songs (1-8)
The wedding of the Lamb begins with a series of praise songs sung by different choirs. They all sing and shout the Hebrew word “Hallelujah” which means “Praise the Lord!” Surprisingly, “Hallelujah” only appears in the Bible here in Revelation 19. These songs praise God for various aspects of his character and work.
The First Choir- The Saints in Heaven (1-3)
The scene opens with the apostle John hearing the roar of a great multitude in heaven—no doubt this is the saints who remained faithful to Jesus Christ on earth but have died. Back in Revelation 6, the saints in heaven prayed for God to avenge their blood by bringing judgment to the earth, and now they sing praise to God for answering their prayer and destroying the great prostitute who corrupted the earth and persecuted them.
They praise God for his salvation, glory, power, truth, and justice, all essential aspects of God’s character. God showed his salvation by delivering his people from the sinful world. He displayed his incomparable power and glory by overthrowing the evil world system. He proved his justice and truth by judging those who rejected the testimony of God’s truth.
In verse 3, the saints in heaven even echo a second “Hallelujah” as they rejoice over the finality of God’s judgment on the world. The phrase “The smoke from her goes up forever and ever” is a metaphor for the eternality of God’s judgment.
The Second Choir- The Angel’s in Heaven (4)
The second choir at the Lamb’s wedding also sings a song of praise to God. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures of verse 4 are all high ranking angels. They fall before God’s throne as a gesture of humility and respect and join the chorus by singing, “Amen, Hallelujah.” By saying “Amen”, they are agreeing with everything that the saints in heaven just sang. And then they add their own hallelujah to further endorse the praise that is already being attributed to the Lord.
The Third Choir- Jesus in Heaven (5)
In verse 5 another voice joins the great choir that is singing praise to God. This voice is unnamed but it is identified as coming from the throne in heaven. Throughout Revelation, when we hear a voice coming from the throne, it has always been the voice of Jesus. Therefore, it is most likely Jesus himself who joins the chorus of singing praise to his Father here.
His praise also bears a command for “all you his servants to praise God, you who fear him, both great and small.” This is a reference to all Christians in general—therefore, all Christians are to sing praise to God.
The Fourth Choir- Everyone in Heaven (6-8)
Like the grand-finale of a fireworks display or the crescendo of a musical masterpiece, in verse 6 all the voices in heaven come together for the final “Hallelujah” of the Lamb’s wedding song. It was so loud and triumphant that it sounded like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder. They begin by praising God for his omnipotence and sovereignty. He has shown his great power and control by bringing down the evil world system and he is about to show it again by ushering in his kingdom.
And then there is the great doxological declaration for everyone to rejoice and be glad and give God the glory because it is now time for the long awaited wedding of the Lamb. Just as the guests at an earthly wedding erupt in applause when the Master of Ceremonies announces the arrival of the wedding party, everyone in heaven explodes with joy and gladness at the news of the arrival of the bridegroom, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who died to take away the sins of the world.
The church, which includes everyone who has truly trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, is the bride. The church has been preparing herself for this day by living holy lives, doing righteous acts, and being faithful to Christ, despite temptation and persecution. This is a picture of that wonderful day that Jesus returns and is rejoined with his people and he takes them to live with him in heaven forever.
Those of you who are truly Christians are part of the church, and the church is the bride of Christ. What are you doing to prepare yourself for the wedding of the Lamb? Are you living a holy life? What kind of righteous acts are you doing? Are you resisting temptation and enduring persecution? Are you living a life of faithfulness to Jesus Christ?
The Wedding Invitation (9-10)
This whole wedding scene closes with an angel commanding John to write down this beatitude: “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.” This line presents a different perspective on the wedding metaphor of verses 7-8. There the bride, the corporate church, was viewed as about to wed the Lamb, but now the individual Christians are pictured as guests at the wedding banquet. Both pictures highlight the intimate communion of Christ with believers, but he first focuses on the corporate church and the second on individual members of the church.
This beatitude speaks to each one of us directly today. We have to remember, this feast and celebration is by invitation only. There are no wedding crashers in heaven.
The reality is that we are all blessed because we have all been invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb. If you didn’t know it before, consider yourself invited now! The only question is: Will you respond? Will you commit to Jesus Christ today and reserve your place at the wedding supper of the Lamb?
As I confessed at the beginning of this sermon—I love weddings! I have been blessed to attend some pretty good ones in my day, and I bet you have too. But none of them will compare to the wedding of the Lamb that will take place when Jesus returns. I hope to see you all there!