Revelation 19:17-21

April 11, 2021

Lord’s Day Worship

Sean Higgins

The sermon starts around 21:05 in the audio file.

Series: Just Conquer #53

Introduction

Is living by faith the easiest thing to do, or the most difficult? We are saved by faith alone; salvation is God’s work that we receive. The Father chose a people to save, the Son made the sacrifice to purchase salvation, and the Spirit regenerates and then works and wills that salvation in us. The believer’s identity is just that: a believer. We are “the ones believing.”

Believing certainly seems easier than paying off our debt to God, especially since His economy of forgiveness runs on blood. The only currency, so to speak, that covers the long list of our lawbreaking is blood, and we don’t have enough. We’ve all rebelled against Him in sin, and there’s no only-human way to fix it. He doesn’t accept dollars or good deeds or pilgrimages. Faith in Christ, receiving the gospel of His righteous sacrifice, is the only way of salvation.

But this is only “easier” in the way that hanging onto the wing of an airplane at 30,000 feet is “easier” than flapping your arms to fly at the same height. Another angle on this is to say that living by faith is still quite a ride.

This ride looks ridiculous, unsafe, and unnecessary to many on the ground. They might say that clinging so desperately onto Christ makes us fools. And, look at all the other people standing around down here, safe by all appearances, and having a much easier time.

But, ironically, if they had the eyes of faith that would save them, then they would be able to see some of what they needing to be saved from. But they don’t believe, so they can’t see, and in spiritual darkness they will play around acting as if they don’t need God. Many of them will even get up the gumption to get irritated at the name of Christ. They will mock and shoot at those hanging onto Christ, and at some point in the future a group of those self-identifying as Team AllThat will gather against Christ in an attempt to dethrone Him.

Any believers living in this time of tribulation will have their faith tested, many of the faithful will be criticized and cut off and some will be killed. The power of the beast will appear to be victorious. It will look as if nothing can overcome him, even with the appearance that he overcame death, having a mortal wound that was healed (Revelation 13:12). So many will follow the Antichrist rather than put their faith in Word of God.

I understand that the word faith is not in Revelation 19:17-21, neither is the word believe. But this Revelation is for us who believe. This is the prophecy of the Second Coming of Christ, and it will be a ride for those with Him.

The Banquet (verses 17-18)

The Rider on the white horse and His army were seen in heaven (Revelation 19:11), now John writes that I saw an angel standing in the sun, or maybe “before” the sun. This location might emphasize his authority, he can handle the heat of sol, or his visibility, the greatest backlight of all time (even if not quite what we might think like the Bat-signal). This angel is another herald angel, announcing the second supper in the chapter, but with a completely different set of guests and menu.

With a loud voice (the angel) called to all the birds that fly directly overhead. Though the Greek word is a word for birds in general, the description of the birds as overhead birds along with the purpose for their coming suggests that these are more like vultures, birds of prey that feed on decaying flesh. In fact, flesh is the key word in this summons.

> “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” (verses 17b-18)

In chapter 19 there are two meal invitations from th[...]