Tuesday in the Twenty-Eighth Week of Ordinary Time

Revelation 19:6-10

Wedding Day

We move now from the fall the great city—the city of this world whether Babylon, Rome, or any other city of man—we move from that glorious and final annihilation to the even more exceedingly glorious and long-awaited wedding day of the Son with his Church.

The shout of “Hallelujah!” rings out of heaven, as if this were the day for which heaven and earth were created—and it is!  The Church is the Father’s gift to His Son and heaven and earth were created to house them.  And all of this testifies to our glorious, omnipotent God who reigns over all.  He decreed that this day should come—that the city of man should finally fall and the city of God be finally established, that those who served the flesh should fade into the twilight while the saints shine like the stars for all eternity, that death should be defeated and life reign forever, and that filth and vileness be eradicated while the beauty of purity be finally restored to His people in a new heaven and earth.  This victory proves that “the Lord God Almighty reigns.”  May we faithfully watch and wait until it comes to pass, knowing that what is invisible now shall one day be sight.

But back to the wedding and the purity of the bride, note that she wears “fine linen, bright and pure.”  Contrast this with the “Great Prostitute” of chapter seventeen “arrayed in purple and scarlet” and “with gold and jewels and pearls.”  How gauche, how ostentatious, how tasteless, vulgar, and immodest—precisely what we expect from a harlot!  The dress of the Bride is completely absent of such pretense.  White is her color—pure and clean.  And what need has she of jewels?  Her wealth resides in her Groom whom she adores, indeed, worships!  The forgiveness of her sins through her husband’s blood and her righteous deeds committed through the power of his Spirit gives her such dazzling beauty that no other woman has ever rivaled.  Her royalty comes from being His bride and her faithfulness through the tribulation she has just come out of in the city below.  If a woman, which clothing would you prefer?  If a man, which bride would you have?  Your answer to this question reveals your heart.

The angels implore John to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”  These worship the true God alone and hold to the testimony of Jesus—the spirit of prophecy written on every page of Scripture.  Cling to Christ, walk in the Spirit, obey the word, and keep yourself pure; after all, we’ve got a wedding to attend—OURS.

Author: The Reformed Baptist

My name is Stephen Taylor, ordained Baptist minister of eighteen years pastoral experience with a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Better than that, I am married to a godly woman, Karla, who has been very patient with me since 1989. I have two daughters, both of whom I homeschooled for extended periods of time, who became godly young women, and who ran off and married godly young men, all of which is very proper. The oldest daughter has even seen fit to bless me with a grandson and a granddaughter, and my youngest daughter with a grandson, all three of whom are bundles of exceeding joy. As you can see, I am quite blessed. This website is dedicated to helping people grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of writing that the Lord has given to me. It is specifically about helping His people grow in godliness, the theme you see repeated above. I write devotions with this aim and hope that they might be of some help to God’s people. Full disclosure: I am of a Reformed bent, meaning that my understanding of Scripture is primarily informed by the Reformers and their successors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, as a student of church history and theology, I strive to remain true to that teaching handed down once for all unto the saints through every age of the Church. I like to think of myself as a “catholic” Christian, as the Reformers thought of themselves. At any rate, feel free to read, pray, and contact me if you wish, or correct me if need be. As you can see, I tend to follow the church year. Of course, I make no special claims about these devotions. I know very well that others have written better and plumbed the depths of God’s word with greater insight. But if my musings help someone draw closer to the Lord, well then, I have my reward. Blessings to you and may the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ speak to you that word which He knows you especially need to hear. Grace & peace, Stephen Taylor

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