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Living Hope SDA Church

Christian Martin

One Lamb-Two Brides?

And it is nearer than when we first believed.

As we open the Word of God, I invite you to bow your heads with me as we acknowledge Him, our Father in heaven.

This has already been a high Sabbath in which we have praised your holy name, we have witnessed a life transformed, we have given of our best, and Lord now we open your word to allow you and welcome you to speak a word to us today.

I pray Lord that the Holy Spirit would have his own way in us as we take heed and I pray Lord that you would give us a mind that is alert and attentive and we thank you in Jesus' name, amen.

My message today is entitled 1 Lamb, 2 Brides.

At first glance, you would think that this seductive and hideous imagery came straight out of a Hollywood production.

A drunk prostitute sipping wine from a golden goplet, fearlessly sitting on a blood-red, seven-headed beast." Did American author of fiction and horror, Stephen King, come up with this?

In fact, it is a divinely inspired depiction of 1 of the many graphics, graphic images, used in the book of Revelation to present truths and themes greater than the symbols and images themselves.

The book of Revelation, it's a book regarded by many as 1 to fear rather than to understand.

1 news journalist put it this way, the book virtually drips with blood and reeks of sulfur.

In fact, did you know that early Protestant reformers, Luther and Calvin, did not think that Revelation should be in the Bible.

However, over the years I've seen men and women open their Bibles to the book of Revelation.

And many begin reading Revelation expecting only to find accounts of hail and fire mixed with blood, seven-headed beasts, and descriptions of ugly and painful sores.

But they make an unexpected, yet very pleasantly, a pleasant surprise as they come to the very introduction of the book.

An unexpected passage in the very introduction of the book.

Blessed is he who reads, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it for the time is near.

There's not just 1, but there's 3 blessings given to the 1 who opens the pages of the book of Revelation.

We can call this a triune blessing from a triune God.

Young's literal translation puts it this way.

Contrary to popular opinion, blessings can be expected when reading the book of Revelation.

The 3 blessings though that comes to those who read, to those who hear, and to those who keep the things written therein, are followed by a statement that could be taken both as a promise and a warning.

The Apostle John writes in the very last phrase of verse 3, he writes for the time is what everyone?

Yet when today's generation, today, ought to be thoroughly informed of what is to come, as were previous generations before us.

Prophecies were fulfilled in their lifetime as that time drew near.

But today, today's generation, Well, we're either disinterested, indifferent, or grossly misinformed.

Take for instance Kanye West, famous rapper.

He gave his life to Christ not too long ago.

And many Christians got excited when they heard this news.

They got excited because he has a large following and it would give him an opportunity to reach millions of people.

But now, he is saying that the COVID vaccine, well, it's gonna be the mark of the beast, as mentioned in Revelation 13.

You know, today, 1 can find many more amusing interpretations than there are actual images in the book of Revelation.

You can find anything and everything under the sun when it comes to understanding the prophecies of Revelation.

But 1 overriding image among the many that the world needs to behold, It's a rather striking image against the backdrop of hideous beasts.

There's a lamb mentioned and appears 28 times in the 22 chapters of Revelation.

There is a lamb who is worthy of all praise and honor.

Remember it was John the Baptist who first pointed to and identified Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

And now, millenniums later, every nation, tribe, tongue, and people must be pointed to Jesus, to the Lamb of God, who is Revelations beginning and end.

They must be pointed to Jesus, who is Revelation's righteous judge.

They must be pointed to Jesus, who is Revelation's coming King.

They must be pointed to Jesus, who is Revelation's triumph and conqueror.

And when Jesus, the Lamb, is revealed, Revelation's apocalyptic content gives hope to the reader who searches, who searches, who reads, who hears and understands.

Isn't it what the world most desperately needs today?

Hope in the midst of political instability.

Do you agree that there is a need for hope for a new kingdom?

There's hope, There's a need for hope for a new society.

There's hope for a world where righteousness, not violence, dwells.

There is hope, not in precedence, but in the Lamb of God.

And contrary to popular belief, the book of Revelation is also filled with songs and rejoicing.

Did you know that 1 can find 27 songs in the 22 chapters of Revelation?

It is a book filled with expressions of praise.

1 of them is found in Revelation chapter 19.

I like to draw special attention to this song, So come with me to Revelation 19.

And John writes, And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude as the song of many waters and as the sound of mighty thundering, saying, hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.

Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.

Who is this woman that has made herself ready?

Now to be sure, prophets of old knew that a woman in Bible prophecy symbolized a people claiming to be followers of God.

In fact, the prophet Isaiah, 1 of the major prophets of the Old Testament, he wrote, and say unto Zion, thou art my people.

The people of Zion are referred to as the people of God.

And Jeremiah, another major prophet, adds, I have likened the daughter of Zion to a beautiful and delicate woman.

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One Lamb-Two Brides?

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