The New Heaven and Earth - July 29,2018 sermon

 By Pastor Greg ...

An 85-year-old couple had just celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary; they were in good health, mostly because the wife insisted on healthy food and exercise.  Unfortunately, they died suddenly in a car crash. When they reached heaven, they were shown their room in the Lord’s mansion.  His wife "oohed" and "aahed," but the old man asked how much all this was going to cost.  "It's free," they were told; "This is Heaven."  They were shown a nearby golf course; it was magnificent.  "What are the green fees?" the old man asked.  The guide replied, "This is Heaven! You play for free."  Next, they were shown the clubhouse.  There was a lavish buffet with food from all over the world.  "How much to eat?" asked the old man.  "Don't you understand yet?” the guide replied.  “This is Heaven, it's free!"  “Oh,” he replied, “but I need something that is low in fat and high in fiber.”  “That's the best part,” said the guide.  “You can eat as much as you like of whatever you like, and you never get fat, and you never get sick. This is Heaven!"  With that, the old man went into a fit of anger.  He threw down his hat, pointed to his wife, and said, “This is all your fault! If it weren't for your blasted bran muffins, I could have been here ten years ago!"

I don’t know how much of that story is true, but when we do talk about heaven, we think of a place beyond our wildest dreams.  And it’s true.  Heaven is much more than we could possibly imagine.

At the end of the 1,000-year reign of Jesus, and after The Day of Judgment, those judged worthy and those who accepted the sacrifice of Jesus will finally experience the “Heaven” we have all imagined.  Revelation 21 says…

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. ² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

³ I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. ⁴ He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

⁵ And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. ⁷ All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.  ⁸ “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

⁹ Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” ^[1]

A new heaven and a new earth.  God promises a new place for us to live.  Oh, and just in case you are confused about the word “heaven” here, God is not going to remake the place where He dwells.  The use of “heaven” here is a reference to the sky above the earth.^[2]

The image of this place is glorious.  A voice from the throne promises that there will no longer be any crying, sorrow, or pain in this new earth.  There will be no death (makes sense since death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire – Revelation 20:14).  This is the reward for those found in the Lamb’s Book of Life… those judged worthy and those who accepted the sacrifice of Jesus.  In this new place, the redeemed (those saved by Jesus) will stand before God face to face.  They will no longer merely sense the presence of God in their life; He will be right there among them, and they will be His people… we will be His people

But I wonder… what will become of our memories?  Will they be wiped clean?  I mean, what of all our past failures?  Don’t those memories fill us with sorrow?  What about the things in this life that makes us sad?  How it is possible that those sorrows or that pain no longer exists in the new heaven and earth?  Does God wipe our memories?  Do we experience some sort of reboot; a software upgrade?

I know, I know.  I think too much.  I wonder about these things instead of just being thankful for them.  And yet, I can’t help but wonder how there will be no more sorrow if I still remember my regrets and losses in this life.  What if I realize a loved one is not in this new place but instead condemned with the cowards, unbelievers, and the corrupt?  That certainly will cause me pain.  And what if they are condemned because I refused to say or do anything to save them from an eternity in hell?  How will God remove that pain from my life?

Maybe the answer is found in a more clear understanding of the word “new.” In the Greek language, “new” means “what is new in nature, different from the usual, impressive, better than the old, superior in value or attraction.”^[3]  So, biblical scholars stress that when God makes all things new, life in heaven “will have none of the features that so characterize the present earth.”^[4]  Also, keep in mind that Jesus described the event in Revelation 21as a “regeneration” (Matthew 19:28), and Peter called it a time of cleansing and renewing by fire (2 Peter 3:10-13). 

That idea of “cleansing” probably best describes what theologians suggest happens to our memories in this new earth.  “New” doesn’t mean different; it means “better than the old.”  It’s like God will take who we are and make us better; better physically (no death), better emotionally (no sadness), and better mentally (no sorrow).  He doesn’t do away with who we are, but He takes who we are and makes us better.

Isaiah 65:16 seems to suggest that when God creates the new heavens and earth, “the former troubles are forgotten, because they are hidden from [His] sight!”^[5]  So, it seems that God will somehow purge our troubling memories from our minds; He will do away with our sorrows and regrets.  In fact, one theologian writes, “Our memories will eventually be cleansed, redeemed, healed, and restored, not erased. There is no reason why we could not possess many memories from our earthly lives. The memories that will be cleansed are the ones that involve sin, pain, and sadness.”[6]

To me, this is even more significant than the gift of a body free from pain.  It appears we will also receive a mind free from a lifetime of emotional hurt, pain, and rejection.  We will become who we were meant to be.

Doesn’t this just cause your heart to leap for joy?  Can you imagine being free from all your sadness and regrets?  Picture a life without shameful memories or painful failures!  For the first time in your life, you will know yourself as God has known you all along.  You will be who He intended you to be.

I love the way C.S. Lewis described this revelation.  He suggests, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.  Remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship.”[7]  Mr. Lewis learned that when we look at others, we see the product of sadness, rejection, ridicule, loss, and pain.  Those “pains” may be what we see, but it is not what God sees.  God looks past those things and straight into the heart.

And one day, He will remove them.

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

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^[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Re 21:1–9). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[2] Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 983). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[3] Behm, J. (1964–). Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 3, p. 447). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

^[4] Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 985). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[5] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Is 65:16). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[6] https://www.gotquestions.org/remember-Heaven.html

[7] C.S. Lewis in The Weight of Glory

The Final Judgment - July 22, 2018 sermon

     By Pastor Greg...

          One day a little girl was watching her mother wash the dishes.  She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white in her brunette hair.  Curious, she asked, "Mommy, why are some of your hairs white?"  Her mother replied, "Well, every time you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."  The little girl was silent for a while and then said, "Poor Grandma. You must have been very, very hard to raise."

*sigh* Everywhere you go, there is a critic; someone is always judging our behavior.  We just don’t like being judged… not by others and especially not by God.

The judgment of God is one of those issues that creates deep divisions in our world; even Christians are divided on this issue.  People have a hard time accepting verses from the Bible that speak of God’s judgment; they insist God would not do this to someone.  “God is a God of love,” they claim; He would not punish someone this way.  While some people remove certain sins from the Bible - thinking that by rewriting the list they will escape God’s punishment - others present different interpretations of hell.[1]  They do this because they refuse to accept this period of judgment.  What they are doing is creating God in their own image… a God they can tolerate.

Even throughout Christianity, people argue over the reality of hell; some Christians cannot accept a God who judges us and punishes us for our actions.

One particular section that is questioned can be found in Revelation 20:7-15.  This is what happens at the end of the Millennium – that period where Jesus ruled the earth with justice and fairness; where the world was filled with peace, security, and long life.  ⁷ When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. ⁸ He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. ⁹ And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them.

¹⁰ Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

¹¹ And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. ¹² I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. ¹⁴ Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. ^[2]

Why does this happen?  Why does God permit Satan to deceive these people?  Well, it happens to prove a point.  During the thousand-year reign of Jesus, mortals will enjoy countless blessings.  Not only will they enjoy peace and long-life, but they will also experience a time when even the animals are no longer afraid; the wild deer or the gentle bunny will not run away in fear when people are around.  The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm ^[3] (Isaiah 11:8).  And yet, despite all these blessings, these people are still easily deceived.  When Satan is released, those who experienced grace from the Lord will turn their backs to Jesus and rebel.  And by their actions, they prove that they have hearts like stone.  Even after Jesus does all these things, people will reject Him.  And by their rejection, they judge themselves guilty.

Yes.  It is their actions that judge them; by their actions, these people condemn themselves to hell.  And not just this group of rebellious people.  John reveals that the mass of people throughout history who had died separated from God will, at last, be brought before Him and be judged by what they had done; their “deeds” demonstrate the hardness of their hearts.  These are both the people who outright rejected Jesus and those who never allowed Jesus to change them.  And yes, you heard me correctly.  Those who merely went through the motions – those who acted religious – will find themselves rejected at this time.  They never allowed Jesus to transform them; they never allowed Jesus to address their sin nature, so they are judged guilty (compare Matthew 7:21-23).

It isn’t God who condemns someone to hell; we make that choice.  Jesus warned us about this.  Speaking to a large crowd, Jesus said, “All who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken”^[4] (John 12:48).  These souls will find themselves standing before God already guilty; their actions in this life have already condemned them.  This is the day of their sentencing.  But, in contrast, Jesus said, “those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life”^[5] (John 5:24).  True Christians – those who have surrendered their life to Jesus – do not stand before God on this Judgment Day.  Christians have already passed from death into life; they don’t need to be judged at this time. 

This chapter is also a stumbling block for some because they wonder what becomes of those who never had the opportunity to hear the message of Jesus.  What will become of those either too young to know or too separated from humanity?  Well, the good news is that, according to the Bible, these people will be judged by their deeds (Revelation 20:13).  Those who never heard the message of Jesus will be pardoned if they had acted in ways guided by their conscience… when they “instinctively” follow God’s Laws without even knowing them.  Paul argues this in Romans 2.  “Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. ¹⁵ They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right”^[6] (Romans 2:14-15). Those who have not heard are judged by their deeds.

And thinking about the little children, we need to keep in mind that the judgment of Christ will be both just and fair; no one will criticize the Lord for His decisions.  Even you and I know it is unjust to condemn someone when they don’t know right from wrong.  And if we know this is unjust, how much more does our Lord who is holy.  It is safe to say that we can place our children in His hands, knowing that if they meet the Lord before they were old enough to know, they will find comfort and peace and love.

As we consider this time of judgment, please keep in mind that these revelations were given to the Church (Revelation 1:11).  They were a “wakeup call” to the Christians living throughout Asia Minor and beyond.  It was intended to light a fire in the hearts of these 1^st-century believers.  Maybe it should do the same thing today. 

I accept what is written here in Revelation. I believe these words are true.  God does judge the unsaved people of this world; their deeds in this life testify against them.  But reading this section made me think of certain people in my life; people I once knew but who have died.  I thought of neighbors from my childhood.  Sam and Carl had a horrible home life; their parents were constantly fighting.  Sam and Carl would sometimes come over to our house to play, and we would occasionally talk about life, but we never talked about the Lord.  We never talked about church.  And when Sam recently died, I was filled with guilt for not doing more to bring him to Christ.  Or I think about a recent neighbor named Paul.  I would talk to him about God and about the church, but he was wounded by a legalistic Christian, so he had no interest in attending any church.  When he died suddenly, I was filled with guilt that I had not done enough.  I had thought about doing more but never followed through on those thoughts.  I kept thinking “tomorrow I’ll invite Paul to the Men’s Breakfast or to some church social activity.”  But when “tomorrow” came, I didn’t follow through; I felt I had enough time.  Turns out, I didn’t, and I must live with the consequences.  I live wondering what awaits Paul, or Sam, in the next life.  What will they experience as they stand before the Lord?

If Christians were to take the words in Revelation 20 seriously, they would labor with every ounce of strength to tell others about Jesus’ offer of grace.  If we really believed that a person might spend eternity in hell, we would do everything in our power to spare them that punishment.  We would not rest; we would not be complacent.  I feel that if the Church truly believed this Day of Judgment was coming, there would be fewer squabbles about decorations or music or furniture placement in a worship building.  We would be driven to reach the lost in this world.  Our decisions as a church would be made as if tomorrow was too late.

So, if you are already a Christian, this Revelation from the Lord should move you to action; it should do the same for those who do not yet believe.

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[1] Over the years, four distinct perceptions of hell have emerged:

1. Literal: hell is a real place where the condemned suffer and remain separated from God for eternity.

2. Metaphorical: hell is a concept, not a real place.  In this view, the wicked person is simply never restored to God and, consequently, never receives any of the blessings mentioned in the Bible.  Passages that speak of suffering and judgment are not taken literally.

3. Purgatorial: the idea that hell is a place where our sins are “purged.”  It is a place where some people are able to pay for their sins; once paid, they are restored to God.  

4. Conditional:  some feel that hell represents a second death; a person’s spirit and soul cease to exist.  Others, like the Universal Unitarians, believe everyone will eventually be restored to God.

^[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Re 20:7–15). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Is 11:8). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Jn 12:48). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Jn 5:24). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ro 2:14–15). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

The Millennial Kingdom - July 15, 2018 sermon

By Pastor Greg...

A woman was sitting in the waiting room for her first appointment with a new dentist. She noticed his diploma, which bore his full name. Suddenly, she remembered that a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in her high school class so many years ago. Could this be the same guy I had a crush on way back then she wondered?  She quickly discarded any such thought when she met the balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face. He's way too old to have been my classmate, she thought to herself.  Still, after he examined her teeth, she asked, "Did you happen to attend Morgan Park High School?"  And the man said, "Yes! I'm a Mustang." "When did you graduate?" she asked. "1978," he replied. "Why do you ask?" "You were in my class!" she exclaimed.

"Really?" he said, looking at her closely. "What did you teach?"

The years do this to us.  We age.  We get older.  Things wear out.  But a day is coming when this will no longer be true.  Many places in the Old Testament talk about a future time without war (Isaiah 2:2-4), a time of fairness for the poor (Isaiah 11:4), a time without sadness or sorrow (Isaiah 30:19).  It is the time when the wolf and the lamb will live together (Isaiah 11:6).  This is the Millennial Kingdom; a time when those who are still mortal will live long, healthy lives.  “For My people’s lives will be like the lifetime of a tree.  My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands,”^[1] wrote Isaiah (Isaiah 65:22).  And these events begin once Jesus returns to rule the earth for a thousand years. 

Revelation chapter 20 describes the events that take place once Jesus returns to the earth and defeats the armies of Satan.  John says, “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. ² And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; ³ and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

⁴ Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.^[2]

Notice what John described here.  He said that once Jesus returned to the earth, Satan is actually bound in the abyss for a thousand years.  He will not be able to deceive those who are still alive.  Any Jew or Gentile who survived the 7-year tribulation will not have to deal with Satan’s constant temptations.  However, these survivors are not automatically included in the Millennial Kingdom.  While Christ rules from Jerusalem, those who survived the Tribulation period will be judged; before Christ reigns on earth, the “sheep” need to be separated from the “goats.”

Those seated on the thrones are given authority to judge.  And it seems these are the Twelve Apostles.  Jesus once promised that “when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” ^[3] (Matthew 19:28).

So, according to Jesus, it is the Twelve Apostles who sit on those thrones, and they are given the responsibility of deciding who is permitted to experience the blessings of this Millennial Kingdom.[4]  Of course, you and I are not apostles, but we are disciples of Jesus.  We are part of the Church - a building built on the foundation established by the Apostles (Ephesians 2:20).  So, these twelve men represent the Church as they sit on these thrones.

The first group to experience the blessings of the Kingdom are those who had been killed during the Tribulation.  Although their faith in Jesus came too late to experience the Rapture, they are still counted among those who believe.  Judged worthy, they experience a bodily resurrection and become priests who reign with the Lord for a thousand years (verse 6).  Some Bible scholars also believe the Old Testament Saints will be part of this first resurrection as well (see Daniel 12:2-3).

Other groups of people will be permitted to experience these blessings, but they need to be judged worthy.  Keep in mind that not everyone will be killed during the Battle of Armageddon.  Some survivors will be Jewish while others come from different nations.  The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel wrote that Jews will be judged at this time; they will be called together from where they are scattered and will be examined (compare Ezekiel 20:33-38).  The prophet Zechariah spoke of this day as well.  In chapter 12, he describes the Millennial Kingdom as the time when the Jews finally realize that Jesus was and is their Messiah.  Any Jew who survived the Tribulation will look at Jesus and know they had been wrong all these years; their Messiah did come, but they missed it.  Israel will experience a national repentance (Zechariah 12:10).

And finally, Jesus indicated that non-Jewish survivors of the Tribulation will be judged as well.  This is the lesson He teaches in Matthew 25:31-46.  A Gentile (a non-Jewish person) will be judged based upon his or her actions during the Tribulation; this is when the “sheep” are separated from the “goats.”

Of course, these judgments are not related to salvation.  This is a time of review to purge unrighteousness from the Millennial Kingdom of Christ; it may be associated with biblical passages that speak of being cast into outer darkness.  Regardless, the final Day of God’s Judgment happens at the end of this 1,000-year period.

This Millennial Kingdom of Christ is the “golden age,” or the “utopia” people have dreamed of for centuries.  Humanity will be free from war, sickness, and even death.  And, perhaps you wonder why this will only last 1,000 years.  Well, we will see that even during this time of global peace, and during a period where Jesus can be seen and heard, people will still turn their back on God (we’ll talk about this next week).

While Jesus rules this earth for a thousand years, you will be by His side.  It’s more than what we expected; far more than what we deserve.  And yet, think about the great victory you have won in this life.  You are a normal human being who struggles with sin.  You battle temptation every day.  Satan is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).  You face pressure from your peers.  Society lures you toward the sensual things in life.  Greed and envy are all around you.  And yet, despite all these distractions, you choose Christ.  You accept Jesus, whom you cannot see, over the tangible things in this life.  No matter what tactic Satan may use against you, you remain steadfast and immovable in your devotion to the Lord… and that, my beloved friend, is an incredible victory; a victory worth celebrating.  So, whether you want to dwell on this or not, one day, you will find yourself seated at a place of honor.  You will receive a glorified body either through the resurrection or through the rapture.  And, “everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for [the Lord’s] sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life”^[5] (Matthew 19:29).

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^[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Is 65:22). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

^[2] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Re 20:1–6). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

^[3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 19:28). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

[4] This is not choosing who is saved; that judgment is reserved for Christ.  This is choosing who will experience the joys of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ; those who will experience this time of great blessing.

^[5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 19:29). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

The Bride of Christ - July 1, 2018 sermon

By Pastor Greg...

Approaching eighty-five years of age, Mrs. Wells finally decided it was time to give up her home in North Carolina and move to Miami.  She was given the name of a Florida Realtor, who enthusiastically drove her all over Miami, extolling the virtues of every apartment they looked at.  "And this one, what a steal, " he said, "the investment of a lifetime.  Why, in ten years it's gonna be worth three times as much!"  "Sonny," interrupted Mrs. Wells, "at my age, I don't even buy green bananas."

Mrs. Wells sure knew how to plan for the future.  She was convinced the Lord could call her home at any minute.  Maybe that’s something the Church should learn as well.  Maybe we need to realize our time on this earth could be rather short.

When your Bible uses the word “Church,” it is not talking about a building; a building is not the Church.  The Apostle Peter once described the Church as God’s very own possession; chosen people who have become “Royal Priests” in God’s holy nation (1 Peter 2:9).  The Apostle Paul described the Church as “The body of Christ” (Ephesians 1:23), while the Apostle John described the Church as the “Children of God” (1 John 3:1).  So, when we speak of the Church, we are talking about individuals who have a special relationship with Jesus.  The Church is made up of those who trust in Jesus to forgive their sin.  In this way, even “Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners.”  This is the Good News preached by the apostles.  Those who used to be far away from God, “come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done. [We] are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. [we] are members of God’s family. ²⁰ Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. ²¹ We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. ²² Through him, Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit”^[1] (Ephesians 2:18-22).

The Church is not a building; the Church is men, women, and children from all over this world who have been reborn because of their faith in Jesus.  AND, according to the angels in Heaven, this gives the Church a special relationship with Jesus.  In the middle of Revelation 19, thousands of voices make two significant announcements.  The first is to describe the Church as “The Bride of Christ.”  And the second is to announce the time for the “Wedding Feast” was about to begin.

⁶ Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. ⁷ Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. 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.

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.” ¹⁰ Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” ^[2]

There it is.  These voices describe a special relationship some people have with Jesus; these people are called “The Bride.”  For this reason, the Apostle Paul calls the Church to be a “pure bride to one husband—Christ”^[3] (2 Corinthians 11:2).  As the Church, believers must be faithful to Jesus, and not allow themselves to be distracted. 

The second thing announced by these angels is that the time had come for the Wedding Feast to begin. But what does that term mean?  What exactly is the “Wedding Feast?”  Well, it’s not just some cute expression; the voices of these angels teach us what awaits the Church in the future.

Weddings in New Testament times were quite different from today.  In the Jewish culture of that time, couples were “engaged” to one another at a young age.  Their parents would agree that when the children matured, they would be joined in marriage.  So, when the time was right, the groom would come to the bride’s house and take her back to his place where the invited guests would celebrate a “wedding feast.”  And sometimes that celebration would last an entire week.

Since the Church has been called the “Bride of Christ,” and Jesus is the “groom,” this wedding feast points to the time when the Bride and the Groom arrive and celebrate their marriage with all the invited guests.  It’s kind of like a “wedding reception;” the ceremony is over, and the guests are waiting in the banquet hall for the couple to arrive.  Putting this in terms we can understand today, this means that one day, Jesus is going to arrive and take the Church to be His bride – that is what is called the “Rapture” of the Church.  Right now, we are awaiting His arrival; as we wait, Christians are to remain faithful until the time comes when all things are ready. 

When Jesus does come for the Church, He and His bride will then begin their journey to the place where the Wedding Feast is planned.  In the timeline of Revelation, it will apparently take 7 years for the Groom and His Bride to arrive.  This is why Jesus told the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids in Matthew 25.  He warns the Jews that when He takes His bride - the church - they are to be alert and ready for His arrival.

This image of a “Wedding Feast” was extremely powerful to John.  What he realized is that the future of the Church is much more than merely living in a mansion with Jesus.  Christians become the Bride of Christ, and they will have a place of honor during the 1,000-year earthly reign of Jesus.  Yes, the Church will be honored during the earthly reign of Christ.  You see, the Bride does not need to be invited to the banquet; she has a place of honor beside the Groom.  So, as the Lord Jesus takes His place inside the new Temple, His bride will be by His side; the Church will reign with Christ while the invited guests celebrate their union^[4] (these are probably Old Testament saints, believers who came to Christ during the Tribulation, and Jews who are still alive at this time).

Like John, I can scarcely comprehend such honor.  Imagine the scene; Jesus has just conquered the vast armies of the earth.  He casts out the Antichrist and the False Prophet.  He rescues Israel.  Jews who have survived the Tribulation period finally fall at the feet of Jesus in worship (Zechariah 12:10).  The people of the world who have survived the earthly judgments of God will confess that Jesus is indeed Lord.  And while all this is happening, the Church will be by His side.

Who could have possibly imagined that the Lord Jesus would give us such a place of honor; to rule beside Him during His 1,000-year millennial reign?  But this is what the voices from the throne seem to imply.  You and I are the Church – the Bride of Christ.  And the Lord will give us a seat of honor by His side.

Of course, this will happen one day in the future.  For now, we are still in the “betrothal” period.  Currently, the Church is still here on the earth awaiting the arrival of the Groom – the Lord Jesus.  For this reason, we must remain faithful.  We must not give our love or attention to anyone or anything else.  We must dress ourselves in fine linen by loving, building, and nurturing this community for Christ.

Since the groom could come at any moment, we Christians must “be careful how [we] live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. ¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants [us] to do^[5] (Ephesians 5:15-17).  We should, “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let [our] conversation be gracious and attractive so that [we] will have the right response for everyone”^[6] (Colossians 4:5-6).  In other words, as the Bride of Christ, we must be living in anticipation of the moment when Jesus comes to take us home.  We must take advantage of every opportunity we have to serve our Lord.  We need to be living as if today is our last opportunity to make a difference in this world; tomorrow may be too late.

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^[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Eph 2:19–22). Carol Stream, IL.

^[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed., Re 19:6–10). Carol Stream, IL.

^[3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (2 Co 11:2). Carol Stream, IL.

^[4] Here the church, described as a bride, will be attended by angels and by saints who are distinct from the bride  - Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 975). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Eph 5:15–17). Carol Stream, IL.

^[6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Col 4:5–6). Carol Stream, IL.