How much longer? that question rises to our lips when suffering grows instead of passing and relief never seems to come. This sermon takes us to the finale of the book of Revelation (Revelation 18-19), where after the fall of great Babylon a fourfold “Hallelujah!” rings out and two feasts come into view: the wedding supper of the Lamb and the grim feast of the birds. You will see that Revelation is not a book of riddles but a letter of comfort for the faithful and a warning for those who think they still have time. Listen and ask yourself which of the two feasts you want a place at.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- The Book of Revelation was written as a letter of comfort to persecuted churches. What in Revelation 19:1-10 might have especially encouraged its first readers, who were crying out "how long"?
- In this chapter Jesus appears both as the Lamb at the wedding and as the Rider on the white horse, in a robe dipped in blood, with a sword coming from His mouth. What do these images tell us about who He is and how He wins?
- The sermon compared the church to Cinderella and told the story of Joni Eareckson Tada coming down the aisle in her wheelchair. How does your view of the imperfect church change when you think about how Christ looks at her?
- The speaker warned against treating the local church with a "here today, gone tomorrow" attitude. What helps you see the church as a people bought by Christ's blood rather than a service to use?
- The chapter ends with two feasts: the wedding supper of the Lamb and the feast of the birds. How does the story of the singer whose name was missing from the guest list help you grasp the seriousness of this choice?
- In what difficult situation are you crying out "how long" right now, and how could the certainty of Christ's victory shape the way you face it this week?
