Revelation 18:20-24
The Praise Fest
We are approaching the end of the tribulation period. I believe
chapters 15:1-19:21 give us the details of that time period in this
book. All of those chapters have recorded judgments.
Chapter 15 - Anticipation chapter building for the Seven Vials
Chapter 16 - Summary chapter of the Seven Vials
Chapter 17 - The destruction of the anti-Christ’s religious
system
Chapter 18 - The destruction of the anti-Christ’s economical
system
Chapter 19 - Mixture of praise and destruction
a. \\Revelation 18:20-19:4\\ Praise for God and the
destructions already rendered.
b. \\#Revelation 19:5-10\\ Praise for the Marriage Supper of
the Lamb.
c. \\#Revelation 19:11-21\\ The destruction of the anti-
Christ, as well as, his political and military arms.
So today, we are looking at two things for which to praise God.
I. \\#18:20-19:4\\ There is rejoicing over God’s person and His
actions.
A. \\#18:20-24\\ The multitudes are rejoicing over God’s
destruction of economical Babylon.
1. We talked about this chapter last week.
a. Without doubt, the Babylon in this chapter is the
economical capital of the world at that time.
b. Even though the city is called Babylon, no specific
location for the city is given.
c. Since we don’t know the time, it is impossible to
know what city or nation is being prophesied.
d. However, if the rapture occurs today, the city would
likely be New York!
2. Regardless of where this city is or when this prophecy
occurs, there will be great sorrow on earth.
a. \\#8\\ Weeping and mourning
b. \\#15\\ Weeping and wailing
c. \\#19\\ Weeping and wailing
3. \\#20\\ But in contrast, heaven, the apostles, and the
prophets are all rejoicing!
a. \\#21-24\\ Make it clear that they are rejoicing at
the violent demise of this city!
b. Why? They rejoice over WHO God IS and over WHAT is
doing.
4. \\#19:1\\ The multitudes rejoice over WHO God is.
a. God is God salvation, glory, honor, and power.
b. Who is God?
(1) He is Salvation!
(a) Listed first! There is nothing God wants
more than to be your Savior.
(b) This world likes to accuse God of creating
a disaster so that He could save us.
(c) Nope. Man created the disaster of sin.
(d) Strange how this world is.
i. They sin and God is merciful so they
say God is not real.
ii. Then when God judges them, they say
God is cruel.
(2) He is glory!
(a) Glory is an outward manifestation of God’s
inward goodness.
(b) How good is God? He gave man 7,000 years of
almost unbridled sin and only 7 years of
judgment.
(3) He is honor! Integrity exalted to the highest
degree. God has kept His word—all of His
promises.
(4) He is power!
(a) He is demonstrating that during this time
period.
(b) You can throw physics and science out the
window during this time period. The only
explanation for some of what goes then is
going to be GOD.
5. In all of the remaining verses. the world is rejoicing
over what God has done.
a. That means heaven is rejoicing over the destructions
and judgments that God is pouring out.
(1) In chapter 18, they are rejoicing over the
destruction of the economical system.
(2) in chapter 19, they are rejoicing over the
destruction of the religious system \\#19:2\\.
b. Why would they rejoice in that?
(1) Because of justice. All of the praise being
rendered here is in part for justice’s sake.
(a) People who have been wronged need things to
be righted!
(b) This economical system for whatever length
of time it has existed, has slain the
people of God.
Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of
prophets, and of saints, and of all that were
slain upon the earth.
(c) The numbering system that the anti-Christ
has implemented has caused the terminal
dehydration and starvation of many of
God’s people. (Economical necessity but
spiritual suicide.)
(d) Such a death is excruciating agony.
(e) In an article written by WESLEY J. SMITH
on August 8, 2014, entitled "Dying of
Thirst Is Excruciating Agony" and printed
by the National Review, the author wrote:
The body is about 60 percent water, and under normal conditions…
If it’s not replaced over time and dehydration becomes severe,
cells throughout the body will begin to shrink as water moves out of
them and into the blood stream, part of the body’s efforts to keep
the organs in fluid. “All the cells will shrink,” he said, “but the
ones that count are the brain cells. They don’t operate normally when
they’re’ shrinking.”
Changes in mental status will follow, including confusion and
ultimately coma. As the brain becomes smaller, it takes up
less room in the skull and blood vessels connecting it to the inside
of the cranium can pull away and rupture. Without water, blood volume
will decline and all the organs will start to fail, he said. Kidney
failure will soon lead to disastrous consequences and ultimately
death as blood volume continues to fall and waste products that
should be eliminated from the body remain.
http://www.nationalreview.com/human-exceptionalism/384971/dying-
thirst-excruciating-agony-wesley-j-smith
(f) God has promised revenge (justice) on those
who do such things and payday is here.
(2) Because it means that mankind’s rule is about
over and God’s rule is about to begin.
(a) God gave mankind a gift when He created him.
(b) It was authority over this planet, but man
sinned it away not long after receiving it.
(c) Since then, the devil has been in charge.
(d) God is about to take it back to Himself and
those who know God’s goodness are getting
excited about it.
(e) No more sin, sorrow, pain, death, tears—
those things don’t come to pass just
because the planet is changed.
(f) They come to pass because God begins to
rule!
6. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Let’s spend some
time thanking God for WHO He is and WHAT He has done.
B. All that is the devil’s is being destroyed and all of heaven
rejoices.
II. \\#19:5-10\\ There is rejoicing for the Marriage Supper of the
Lamb.
A. This is a heavenly scene.
1. While judgments are being poured out on the earth, a
wedding is taking place in heaven.
2. Can you imagine what kind of marriage feast this will be?
a. Consider the marriage place - Heaven!
b. \\#19:8\\ Look at the marriage bride - she hath
prepared herself."
c. Consider the marriage Groom - Jesus.
d. \\#19:9\\ Look the marriage guests - Old Testament
saints.
B. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb is a celebration of the
joining of two-the Lord and the Lord’s church.
1. That means, after long last, the church and the Lord have
officially and permanently been joined together.
a. The church has labored on the earth for 2,000 years
so far and never even seen the Groom!
b. Yet, this is the time when all of the church—every
Christian of every national, tongue, and time—will
be united with Him!
2. This event has been in the mind of God for eons, but at
this point, it is done.
a. From this point, the church is complete.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are
they which are called unto the marriage supper of
the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the
true sayings of God.
(1) No more will be added to it and none will ever
be lost.
(2) The church is a unique entity.
(3) It’s existence seems to run from the Day of
Pentecost to the rapture of the church.
(4) While others will come to know the Lord as their
Savior after the rapture, they probably are not
added to the church.
(5) Rather, most believe they become part of
spiritual Israel.
b. By this point, the church will have been rewarded.
2Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according
to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
1Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this
foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for
the day shall declare it, because it shall be
revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every
man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet
so as by fire.
c. From this point, the church is united with Jesus. We
will never be without Him.
1Thess 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall
we ever be with the Lord.
d. From this point, the church is pure.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should
be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for
the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
(1) All of the sin and sin’s effects have been
removed from the church.
(2) What’s more, it is not possible that sin will
ever effect the church in any way in the future.
e. From this point, the church has all the powers of
Christ. We will have been made "joint-heirs" with
Jesus.
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs
of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be
that we suffer with him, that we may be also
glorified together.
f. From this point, the church will rule and reign
with Christ. (We did not do a very good job by
ourselves so this time, God is going to do it with
us!)
2Tim 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with
him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
C. Sometimes, we on earth wonder at why the Lord placed such
a high standard on marriage. God has expressed some
desires for the marriage.
1. There is to be no impurity before marriage. Each mate
is to keep himself/herself completely pure for their
future partner.
2. Each marriage is to be one man, one woman, one lifetime.
3. There is to be no unfaithfulness after the marriage.
4. Each partner in the marriage is to give 100% love,
100% surrender, and 100% sacrifice for the other.
D. Many have moaned and complained about those standards.
1. The reason God placed such a high standard on marriage
is because marriage is to picture the relationship that
we are to have with Him for all eternity.
a. Which one of these standards would you want lowered
in a relationship you were going to enter into?
b. Which one of these standards would you want Jesus
to drop in your eternal relationship with Him?
c. Most would say, "Don’t drop any of them!"
2. God has kept Himself for us and desires, at least
after our salvation, that we keep ourselves for Him.
a. God has loved us 100%.
b. God has sacrificed for us 100%.
c. God will never cast us away.
d. God will never be a polygamist.
e. God will never be unfaithful.
f. God will not break the marriage relationship—not
ever!
3. God is completely committed to us and He wants us to
be completed committed to Him and to demonstrate that
commitment through our marriages.
a. Now, if your marriage relationship cannot demonstrate
all of the qualities of His relationship to us, let
it demonstrate it the best it can from now on.
b. But that is why the standards of God for marriage
are so high.
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