The Book of Revelation is immense. We’re having a whole day looking at it this summer (3rd August), so if it isn’t in your diary, book it in now!! The key to the book is to understand where and how the images have been used elsewhere in Scripture, and to bring that to the passage you’re considering in the Revelation. This passage is a case in point... the faithful bride and the faithless prostitute. This is a not a new image in Scripture. It has been used before to capture the idea of the Church as faithful to the covenant the Lord has made, in contrast to a faithless world. It is another way of picturing the contrasting destinies of the two cities: Babylon and Jerusalem (see Ch.18 for Babylon, and Ch.21:9-11 for the identifying of the Bride with the New Jerusalem).
It is a breath-taking scene, assaulting the senses as we grapple to take on board the cosmic reality of what is being revealed. A vast echo of the wedding we saw in the opening scene of creation-history (Gen.2:18-25) is heard now in the closing scenes. It is a theme that has resonated along the corridors of time: the books of Song of Songs, of Hosea, Psalm 45, and glorious passages such as Is.54:5; Is.62:5; Eph.5:25-27 (&32), to say nothing of the numerous parables where Jesus styles Himself as the Bridegroom, and the many times idolatry is presented as adultery... Given how often it occurs in Scripture, there may be grounds in saying this is one of the Holy Spirit’s favourite images to capture the dynamics of the relationship between Christ and the Church.
And here in Rev.19, the long awaited ‘wedding of the Lamb’ has finally come. The Bride has finally made herself ready. The prospect is so staggering we can understand why the angel has to underline that this is in fact happening (These are the true words of God). Otherwise we could be forgiven for thinking such a thing impossible. And the atmosphere of this moment is saturated with worship. Every moment is punctuated by a roar of worship that echoes through the vaults of heaven. The Angelic host of heaven (19:1); the Church and the Four Living Creatures (19:4), and Christ Himself (19:5) answer each other in cascading worship, before the whole company of heaven join in a rising crescendo (19:6). Blessed indeed are those who are invited. The worship is so infectious, that John is tempted to worship even the angel... and earns a stern rebuke from his fellow servant (19:10)!
Questions:
Does this passage evoke such instinct for worship as you read it? Do you find yourself longing to be a part of this great company of heaven as they declare the praise of God?
How do you feel about God being worshipped in light of His judging and destruction of the world (19:1-4)? In light of the response of heaven, how would you respond to someone who said they couldn’t worship a God who came in such cataclysmic judgment?
Do you find comfort in this image of the God whose judgments are just and true? why is it emphasized that in judging the world He is avenging the blood of His servants (19:2)? How would you feel about the judgement of God if you had lost those you loved in persecution?
Do you think it is fair of God to judge with an eternal destruction (19:3)?
Why does the Book of Revelation put this imagery in such close proximity to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb? What is the connection between the two events, and why are they intertwined in worship like this?
What does the imagery of the Church as the Bride of Christ / wedding of the Lamb make you think of? What passages are informing your thinking on this?
In what sense does the bride make herself ready? Does that undermine the idea of grace?
What do you think constitutes the ‘righteous acts of God’s holy people’ (19:8, see the contrast of imagery with 18:16)? How can we support each other at MIE as we pursue these?
Why is it only at the end of the age that the wedding supper of the Lamb takes place?
In what ways is a Christian marriage service structured to reflect the dynamics of the relationship between Christ and the Church? If you are married, would you be willing to share how this imagery has shaped your relationship with your spouse?
How important is it that Christian marriages reflect the pattern laid down between Christ and His bride the Church? Can Christians decide to build their marriage in a different direction?
