The Wedding!

by Steve Hale

"Then I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Alleluia! For the Lord

God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.' And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" ( Revelation 19:5-8, NKJV).

October 12, 1979. I remember it like it was yesterday. I drove to the Norfolk, Virginia, airport to pick-up my college roommate, Randy Stephens, flying in for our wedding. We drove back to my apartment, and waited. There were a thousand little details, and everyone had advice! Mom had broken her hip and couldn't come. So many hassles, why was I doing this? Down the aisle of the Williamsburg church building came the answer. Cindy was beautiful...I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

The suffering saints throughout Asia were encouraged by knowing, at the end, there would be a glorious wedding. Christ is the groom and the church is the bride. But wait! These people are being slaughtered by a tyrannical Roman Emperor. For their faith, they've lost loved ones, had property and businesses confiscated, and their own children sold into slavery.

The Roman Emperor made the Empire red with the blood of Christians. It was a terrible time, particularly for the Saints in Asia. Emperor worship, set-up and headquartered in Pergamum ( Revelation 2:13) was mandatory. Refusal meant tremendous hardship and even death.

But, in the Revelation passage, it is not Domitian on the throne, but "...the Lord God Omnipotent reigns." These very Saints are the bride, the church, who are wearing the most beautiful garments, clean, white, and bright by means of their righteous acts.

Through the Lamb, God has given them a glorious victory. The scene is not a funeral, but a wedding. It is not about death, but life, and a brand new relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ!

Have you partaken of that new relationship? Does your life praise Him? Do you daily remember the Baby in Bethlehem, the Carpenter and Teacher of Nazareth, the Savior crucified, buried, and resurrected in Jerusalem, and the Groom at the ultimate wedding of all time? If not, start now, and praise Him!

June 14, 1998

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The Wedding! by Steve Hale "Then I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.' And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" ( Revelation 19:5-8, NKJV). October 12, 1979. I remember it like it was yesterday. I drove to the Norfolk, Virginia, airport to pick-up my college roommate, Randy Stephens, flying in for our wedding. We drove back to my apartment, and waited. There were a thousand little details, and everyone had advice! Mom had broken her hip and couldn't come. So many hassles, why was I doing this? Down the aisle of the Williamsburg church building came the answer. Cindy was beautiful...I couldn't take my eyes off of her. The suffering saints throughout Asia were encouraged by knowing, at the end, there would be a glorious wedding. Christ is the groom and the church is the bride. But wait! These people are being slaughtered by a tyrannical Roman Emperor. For their faith, they've lost loved ones, had property and businesses confiscated, and their own children sold into slavery. The Roman Emperor made the Empire red with the blood of Christians. It was a terrible time, particularly for the Saints in Asia. Emperor worship, set-up and headquartered in Pergamum ( Revelation 2:13) was mandatory. Refusal meant tremendous hardship and even death. But, in the Revelation passage, it is not Domitian on the throne, but "...the Lord God Omnipotent reigns." These very Saints are the bride, the church, who are wearing the most beautiful garments, clean, white, and bright by means of their righteous acts. Through the Lamb, God has given them a glorious victory. The scene is not a funeral, but a wedding. It is not about death, but life, and a brand new relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ! Have you partaken of that new relationship? Does your life praise Him? Do you daily remember the Baby in Bethlehem, the Carpenter and Teacher of Nazareth, the Savior crucified, buried, and resurrected in Jerusalem, and the Groom at the ultimate wedding of all time? If not, start now, and praise Him! June 14, 1998 Related Articles: Print this Article Discuss this Article Back to the Sermon Page	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM