Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb Scripture Reading Revelation 19:1-10 This series follows much of the outline and material provided by Darrell Johnson in his book, Discipleship on the Edge

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb It has been some tough sledding these last weeks. Chapter after chapter Week after week Seal after seal Trumpet after trumpet Bowl after bowl of judgment.

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb Here in Chapter 19 we turn a corner! Hallelujah! Praise Jahweh! Only place in the New Testament where we find the word, “Hallelujah.”

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb Hallelujah used most often in the psalms. - Psalms called the “Hallel psalms” -Celebrating God freeing his people from captivity -Jesus and his disciples would have sung psalms at the end of the Passover meal [last Supper]

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb “Hallelujah” was sung at the meal celebrating the deliverance from Egypt. “Now ‘Hallelujah’ is sung because a new meal is at hand – the feast that celebrates the greater deliverance won through the blood of the Lamb of God.” Discipleship, p. 307

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb Jesus told about this meal, this wedding feast already in Matthew 22:1-14: "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.” v.2

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb Here is the good news of God: You and I are the Bride! In the first letter to the church in Ephesus: “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” Rev. 2:4

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb In the last letter to the church in Laodicea: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:20

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:20 Notice the similarity to Song of Solomon 5:2: Listen! My lover is knocking: "Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one.”

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 1 st letter – “You have lost your first love.” 7 th letter – “Open the door my beloved.” 4 th [middle] letter to Thyatira speaks “about Jezebel who seeks to seduce Jesus’ bride into bed with Babylon the harlot.” p.309

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb Do you hear what God is saying? We are the Bride of Christ! Paul in II Corinthians 11:2: “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.”

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb To fully appreciate our passage this morning we need to understand 1 st century marriage customs.

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb Darrell Johnson describes the 3 steps to getting married: 1.The engagement [betrothal] 2.Preparation for the wedding 3.The wedding supper itself

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 1.The Betrothal Groom leave his father’s house and travel to the bride’s house. Groom finalizes arrangements with father, i.e. the “purchase price.” -the bride was “bought with a price.” Now legally husband and wife, although they would not live together for some time.

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 1.The Betrothal She was now “consecrated” to the groom [set apart] “A new covenant was established between them, sealed be drinking a cup of wine, over which a betrothal benediction was pronounced: “This cup is the new covenant.” “This cup is the new covenant.”

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 2. The Preparation The groom would leave the bride’s house and return to his father’s house In this period of separation [12 months] the groom would prepare a room in his father’s house for his bride, and the bride would prepare herself for the wedding. and the bride would prepare herself for the wedding.

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 3. The Wedding Feast At the end of the betrothal period the groom would get dressed in his finest clothes and go to the bride’s house with his best man and friends People had a rough idea when he would come, but they did not know the exact day or the hour. to heighten to element of surprise, he would arrive at midnight to heighten to element of surprise, he would arrive at midnight

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 3. The Wedding Feast “His arrival would be preceded by the shout ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out Come out to meet him’ (see Matt. 25:6)” ”Then with great joy, the bride, veiled and accompanied by her maidens who were carrying lamps, would come out to join the groom and his attendants.”

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 3. The Wedding Feast Then the wedding feast itself would begin. The groom would take his bride to his father’s house. There the guests would be gathered dressed in special robes. And the feast would last for 7 to 14 days. Discipleship, pp

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb With that background now listen to what Jesus says at the Last Supper – the Passover meal: “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:20

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” John 13:36 John 13:36

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb John 14:1-3 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb How can we miss what Jesus is saying? He is the Groom. We are the Bride He has paid the “purchase price” He has sealed the engagement with a cup of wine. He is preparing a place for us. And he is coming back for us to be with him forever.

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:6-7

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb What does being engaged to the Lamb mean for you and me? 1.“If we are engaged to the Lamb, we have a powerful picture of the nature of Jesus’ love for us.” p his love for us is the passionate love of a bridegroom for his bride - his love for us is the passionate love of a bridegroom for his bride

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 2.Engaged to the Lamb, we are secure p We have been bought with a price. - We have been bought with a price. - We are his. - We are his. - he will not give up on us - he will not give up on us

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 3. Engaged to the Lamb, the issue of discipleship is loyalty, fidelity. p do you want to be found in bed with an other lover? - do you want to be found in bed with an other lover? - Babylon, the harlot, is seductive - Babylon, the harlot, is seductive - Can’t say that you are engaged to the Lamb and then follow the Harlot’s ways - Can’t say that you are engaged to the Lamb and then follow the Harlot’s ways

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 4. “If we are engaged to the Lamb, then sin is worse than we thought.” p not just missing the mark, falling short - not just missing the mark, falling short - sin is adultery - sin is adultery - sin is relational betrayal - sin is relational betrayal

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 5. “If we are engaged to the Lamb, then the call to loyalty is a call to be ready.” p as Jesus is preparing a room for us, we are to be preparing ourselves with act of righteousness - as Jesus is preparing a room for us, we are to be preparing ourselves with act of righteousness - that we follow Jesus’ ways and become more like him - that we follow Jesus’ ways and become more like him

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb 6. “If we are engaged to the Lamb, then the call to discipleship is a call to simplicity.” p when engaged your greatest joy and desire was to be with your beloved. - when engaged your greatest joy and desire was to be with your beloved. - “The call to discipleship, especially under the pressure of Babylonness, is to call to do whatever it takes to stay in love, to do whatever it takes to live in and work toward intimacy with Jesus Christ.” p “The call to discipleship, especially under the pressure of Babylonness, is to call to do whatever it takes to stay in love, to do whatever it takes to live in and work toward intimacy with Jesus Christ.” p. 316

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb Are you engaged to the Lamb? Could it be that you have lost your first love? Where have you listened to Jezebel and are trying to be a Christian and follows the ways of the world?

Things are Not as They Seem – Engaged to the Lamb Do you hear the voice of the one who said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:20