Sermon Central
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The Future Home Of The Redeemed - Part 3 - The Marriage Supper Of The Lamb And Conclusion Series
Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Mar 1, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: Most people believe they will go to Heaven when they die. It is the great future promise of God to every human being. However, Jesus said He was the only way to get there.
Christianity is the only religion that sets forth the Creator of the Universe as love. The Creator King of the Universe, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the supreme Lord of all, is so passionately in love with every person on this planet that the Bible describes it as the love of a groom for his bride! The love of God is the blazing fire at the heart of all creation which resounds with the proof that God is love. Within Jesus is found all the fullness of excellence, beauty, and perfection. He is the author of all that is good in creation.
When God created Adam, He said to him, "I will make a partner suitable to you" (Genesis 2:18 NIV). God was declaring the hidden purpose of His heart from eternity past, the mystery of the ages. The Holy Spirit reveals that this promise ultimately speaks of Jesus and the Church (See Ephesians 5:25-6:1).
God proved He is love by sending Jesus to walk among mankind and die in our place (John 3:16). He now reaches out in tender affection with nail-pierced hands in the purest and most intimate way.
God’s very essence is love (1 John 4:7-10). He has always been love, even before He created us. He has always sought to have a close relationship with us. We were made for this love. The entire story of humanity is wrapped up within it. Love is why we were created, and in love is our eternal destiny. The Holy Spirit reveals that the mystery of the ages is that this promise ultimately speaks of Jesus and the Church (See Ephesians 5:25-6:1).
The heart of God is captivated by every Christian, for He takes great “delight” in them “as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride” (Isaiah 62:4-5 ESV). He pursues every Born-Again Believer with a personal and relentless, infinite love. God thinks about you every moment of every day. His love will never vary or change. That God would love even the vilest of sinners is the greatest mystery of eternity.
“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure” - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:6-9 ESV)
The Marriage Supper of the lamb is an event separate from the marriage that takes place in Heaven and occurs on Earth when the Bridegroom returns with His Bride (2 Corinthians 11:2). The Church is the bride (Ephesians 5:25-27). The Redeemed of the Old Testament are wedding guests, the friends of the Bridegroom.
The Bride of Christ Paradigm
Jesus called Himself the Bridegroom of those who are Born-Again Christians (Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35 John 3:29; Revelation 22:16-17). The Greek word for ‘bridegroom’ is ‘numphios,’ which refers to a newly married man. Every Born-Again Christian is married to Jesus under the terms of the New Testament covenant as Israel was married to God under the terms of the Old Testament (Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 3; Romans 7:1-6l Hebrews 11:40, 12:24; Isaiah 56:6; Jeremiah 50:5).
Jesus has an indescribable desire and delight in human beings. He likes us, enjoys us, wants us, and pursues us. The Bible unveils the ultimate purpose of creating mankind at the very end. It reveals the day when the Bride of Christ meets Jesus, her heavenly Bridegroom, and the marriage covenant is celebrated.
“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 19:7 NIV)
Some say that the Bride of Christ is the universal Church and not each individual member of the Church. The Bible reveals that there is never any variance or change in God’s love, even if only one person was left on Earth! This is the most profound mystery of God’s love! The King of the Universe, the beautiful God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - the supreme Lord of all creation - is so passionately in love with every person on this planet that the Bible describes it as the love of a groom for his bride! God’s heart is full of deep affection for every Christian, for He takes great “delight” in them “as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride” (Isaiah 62:4-5 NIV).
