Summary: This is the 25th sermon in the series "The End". This sermon looks at the marriage and marriage feast of the Lamb.

Sunday Morning October 20, 2002 Bel Aire Baptist Church

Series: “The End” [#25]

SLIDE 31

A WEDDING STORY

Revelation 19:7-11

Introduction:

1. This morning we are going to look at a “Wedding Story”.

2. I want us to start at the beginning of this relationship and follow it through the Honeymoon.

SLIDE 32

The Engagement

SLIDE 33-34

John 3:27-30

1. Here, John the Baptist introduces us to the Bridegroom. Jesus Christ tells us that His main purpose on this earth was “to seek and save what was lost”.

2. He came to this earth for us so that we might live with Him forever. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection we can have salvation and that salvation makes us a part of the universal church.

SLIDE 35-38

Ephesians 5:22-33

3. Today, the Church is engaged to Christ. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for His Bride.

SLIDE 39-40

John 14:1-4

4. In Jesus’ day when a couple was engaged to be married, the Groom would leave His bride and go to his father and tell him he was engaged. The father would then give his son the portion of property that he had inherited and the son would begin to prepare a home for him and his bride. When the home was prepared he would tell his father he was finished and the father would send him to get his bride and they would be married.

5. Jesus Christ is preparing a place for His Bride and He will come back for her.

SLIDE 41-42

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

[Play Wedding Processional Right After Scripture.]

SLIDE 43

The Wedding

1. The sounding of the trumpet is like the wedding processional announcing to the bride that it is time. The Bride will be raptured up to the Groom.

2. Once the Church is raptured out of this world we will all be judged according to our works for Christ while we were here on this earth.

SLIDE 44-46

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

3. Once each member of the Church is judged, all that will be left will be the good things. The Bride now stands before the Groom pure.

SLIDE 47

Revelation 19:7-8

4. See what you do here on this earth for Christ does matter. Don’t you want to have crowns in Heaven to throw at the feet of Jesus?

5. Now that the Wedding of the Lamb has occurred, what is next? The Wedding Supper. The Wedding Supper is the equivalent to our Wedding Reception.

SLIDE 48

Revelation 19:9

SLIDE 49

The Reception

1. This is the time when the Groom gets to “show off” His Bride to His friends.

2. Who are the guests of this Wedding Supper? Many would say the Church, but we are not the guests, we are the Bride. The Wedding Supper is in honor of the Bride and Groom.

3. The Church is made up of all believers from the Day of Pentecost to the Rapture. Those who were found righteous in the Old Testament and those saved during the Tribulation will be the guest.

4. Notice that our text says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” That word “blessed” means “happy”. What a wonderful time that will be.

5. Once the reception is over the Bride and Groom leave for a Wedding Trip, which we call the “Honeymoon”.

SLIDE 50

Revelation 19:11

SLIDE 51

The Honeymoon

1. It is not an accident that immediately after the Wedding Supper we find the Groom on a white horse going to conquer the earth.

2. Jesus will come again and set up His Kingdom here on this earth.

3. He will bring His Bride with Him to reign for 1000 years on earth.

4. This will be 1000 years of peace. The devil will be bound and after the 1000 years will be loosed and destroyed.

5. This marriage will last forever and we will live in Heaven for all eternity.

Conclusion:

1. Are you a member of the universal Church? If not, why are you waiting?

SLIDE 52

Revelation 19:10

2. Notice that John fell to worship an angel and the angel stopped him and said, “Don’t do it!” “Worship God!”

3. Christians, does your life please God? Christians, when your life is put through the refiner’s fire, what will be left?

SLIDE 53-60 Invitation Hymn 318 “The Nail-Scarred Hand”

SLIDE 61 (Blank)