Peace & Victory, Tragedy & Triumph

Ever Since the Fall… Conflict! 14 Then the L ORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this… 15 I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring… 16 Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” – Genesis 3:14-16 Conflict between Humankind and Nature Pain will be part of Life Men and Women will Compete Brothers (Humanity) will Compete (Cain & Able)

Reconciling Evil with Good Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt. – Zech. 9:9  Peace/Victory  Shout in Triumph – Victory?  Your King is Righteous & Victorious  Yet Humble, riding a donkey.  Weapons won’t be needed; His peace will reign!  Tragedy/Triumph  Jesus came to die-1 st coming  Over death and sin  Horribly beaten and crucified – He could have called 10,000 angels.  He established future peace for all humanity – if we receive Him!! 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. - John 1:12

Reconciling Evil with Good 12 And I said to them, “If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.” So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the L ORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”— this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the L ORD. – Zech. 11:12-13  Peace/Victory  30 pieces of silver kept the peace  Israel valued him not  Tragedy/Triumph  Jesus was handed over to die!  All (including Gentiles) were/are offered salvation 15 That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. - Hebrews 9:15

The Wedding Feast of the Lamb Preparing the Bride ”Praise the Lord! For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. - Revelation 19:6-9 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:9-10 Have we prepared ourselves? Are you in Christ?

Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. - Revelation 19:10 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” – Revelation 19:10 Are You Invited?

Perfection & Righteousness Enthroned 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. – Revelation 19:11-13  Victory/Triumph  Righteous Victor on a White Stead  He is Faithful and True  The Victor has triumphed; there is great bloodshed.  Tragedy  Battle is Necessary  Judgment by God’s Living Eternal Word is completed  Salvation had been provided by His own blood.

What About Believers and Non-Believers 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. – Revelation 19:14-15  Victory/Triumph  His army is dressed in white & share victory on white horses  By his word He conquers  As the expression of God, the Christ releases the wrath of God.  Believers share in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  They see final judgment and justice carried out.  Christ literal reign on earth begins.

What About Believers and Non-Believers 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. – Revelation 19:16  Victory/Triumph  The Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords reigns supreme in this realm and all others! 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:9-11