1. REVELATION CHAPTER 19 THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB

2. INTRODUCTION Christians are raptured – (At the last Trumpet) Gods Wrath is being poured out on the world – Chap. 16 Focus on 7 th Bowl and the Great Prostitute – Chapters 17-18 (A political, economic and RELIGIOUS entity connected to the anti-christ in the last days.) NOW CHAPTER 19 – The Scene Shifts to HEAVEN! READ – 19:1-10

3. Rev 19:7-9 7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 9Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! And he added, "These are the true words of God." MATTHEW 22:1-14 - MATTHEW 25:1-13 TODAYS FOCUS

4. Matt 22:1-15 1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4"Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' 5"But they paid no attention and went off-- one to his field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. 13"Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14"For many are invited, but few are chosen."

5. Matt 25:1-13 1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9"'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

6. The Ancient Jewish Wedding Custom I. The PROPOSAL II. The CUP III. The PROMISE IV. The RETURN V. The FEAST SOURCES 1."Marriage," The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, ed.Isaac Landman (New York:Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Co., Inc.,1948) pp. 5,7, 10, 372, 399, 504. 2. George B. Eager, "Marriage," The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1957), III, 1998

7. The Ancient Jewish Wedding Custom I.The PROPOSAL Son – From the Fathers House. Promises made. Price agreed upon. SOURCES 1."Marriage," The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, ed.Isaac Landman (New York:Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Co., Inc.,1948) pp. 5,7, 10, 372, 399, 504. 2. George B. Eager, "Marriage," The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1957), III, 1998

8. The Ancient Jewish Wedding Custom II. THE CUP The Cup of the Covenant or the Cup of Agreement – placed on the table. If the Bride drank – The Covenant was sealed. The betrothal was official – the Bride belonged to the man. Matt 20:20-23 20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21"What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." 22"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. 23Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."

9. The Ancient Jewish Wedding Custom II. THE PROMISE The Groom made several promises – 1. To Prepare a place for her in his fathers house 2.To return for her at the appointed time to receive her as his wife so that they could be together forever. John 14:1-3 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms (Mansions – KJV); if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. GK – monai – dwelling places, rooms, places to stay, houses, mansions, locations of residences. Referring to the Jewish Huppah or BRIDAL CHAMBER.

10. The Ancient Jewish Wedding Custom II. THE RETURN The Betrothal was traditionally set for about one year. Not a complete surprise nor waiting for an imminent return The Bride waited and PREPARED for the return of her Groom for the ACTUAL WEDDING. The Bride would not know the exact hour or sometimes even the exact day…but she WAS TOLD by the SENDING OF MESSENGERS – just days or hours before the event was to occur. It was usually at night and usually around midnight. (The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia) When the message had been sent and the approaching hour had been announced the Bride anxiously awaited at the Brides home with all of her attendants. The Grooms party came through the streets with SHOUTS and TRUMPET BLASTS to announce the COMING GROOM!

11. The Ancient Jewish Wedding Custom II. THE FEAST The Groom would return with His Bride to the Fathers House – There the other guests and the Grooms Attendants had gathered for a week long party and celebration! The marriage was officially consummated on the first night, but the CELEBRATION CONTINUED FOR A WEEK! SOURCES 1."Marriage," The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, ed.Isaac Landman (New York:Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Co., Inc.,1948) pp. 5,7, 10, 372, 399, 504. 2. George B. Eager, "Marriage," The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1957), III, 1998 BACK TO THE PARABLE…

12. Matt 25:1-13 1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9"'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

13. The Ancient Jewish Wedding Custom BACK TO THE PARABLE: 10 Virgins – all gathered at the Brides home 5 Foolish – didnt have oil for their lamps – not prepared Since they didnt know the exact minute or hour – and it drew late in the night – they fell asleep The 5 Foolish – tried to buy some oil at last minute – too late! Later – others came and tried to get in as well… didnt have the oil! The religious lost and the worldly lost THEREFORE KEEP WATCH – because you do not know the DAY or the HOUR. ….BUT WE KNOW THE PROMISE OF HIS RETURN AND THE SIGNS OF HIS RETURN! ARE YOU READY?