A Robe Dipped in Blood -- Revelation 19:1-11
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 02:50PM 
The Twenty-Seventh in a Series of Sermons on the Book of Revelation
In Deuteronomy 32:35, God warns covenant breakers, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.” In verse 41 of that same chapter, God declares, “when I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me.” In the closing chapters of the Book of Revelation, John is given a glimpse of that terrible day when God’s judgment comes upon the whole earth. God’s long-suffering mercies toward his rebellious creatures have come to an end. The end of the age has finally come. Judgment day is at hand.
As we continue to survey the final chapters of the Book of Revelation, John takes us from the issues facing his original audience–the persecution of the saints by the beast (the Roman empire)–to those things directly connected to the of the age. Therefore, once John has been given a vision of the three cycles of judgment (the seven seals, the seven trumpets and seven bowls) each of which intensifies as the end draws near, John now fast-forwards his first-century reader to those events associated with the second advent of Jesus Christ at the end of the age. These events include the glorious redemption of all the saints and the final destruction of all of God’s enemies, including the harlot, the beast, the false prophet, as well as the destruction of the dragon (Satan) whom they worship and serve.
In the previous section of Revelation, which runs from Revelation 16:17 to Revelation 19:10, John describes God’s judgment upon the harlot, and contrasts the bride of the dragon (Babylon the Great) with the bride of Jesus Christ (which is the church). While the great harlot commits adultery with the kings of the earth, continually increasing her guilt, Christ’s bride, meanwhile, is preparing herself for her marriage to the Lamb. By holding fast to the testimony of Jesus in the face of persecution, by remaining faithful to her spouse, and resisting all of the seductive efforts of the harlot, while walking in the good works that Jesus Christ has prepared her to do, the bride readies herself to receive the gift of spotless wedding garments of fine white linen from her husband. Because of the mercies of her bridegroom, she is now holy and blameless, purified from every hint and trace of sin.
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Reader Comments (2)
Did I somwhow miss number 26? they seem to go directly from 25 to 27? Thanks!
I noticed that too. You have to go the section in the left column 'Sermons on Rev' to find the other two.