in a world of conflicting values, when questions are more common than answers. God's Word provides everything we need to live a God-centered, truth-driven life. Now, here's the Word for Life broadcast, brought to you by Brookside Baptist Church. Well, good morning. Thank you for joining us on this Wednesday morning in January the 8th. I'm Mark Widmer, and joining Pastor Ken Keltner on The Word for Life as we continue this great discussion and review of God's revelation in the book of Revelation, the very last book of the Bible. And we've been talking about this glorious event that is coming in the future. the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, something that we probably hear referred to every now and then, but we're looking today at it as specifically as it appears in the book of Revelation. Pastor Ken's made a distinction in scripture between the Marriage Supper of the Lamb that's here in Revelation 19, which the bride are all believers, and takes place in heaven. Matthew 22 talks about another event called the marriage feast that is going to be between God and the nation of Israel. But we've talked about how to know that you're going to be there. and a great presentation of the gospel. Pastor Ken gave us that a time that we realized our sinfulness, our hopelessness, and we put our faith and trust in what Jesus has done for us on the cross, giving us salvation. We're going to be moving into this idea now of how to be ready for this marriage supper. Pastor Ken? Well, why don't you begin by reading verse 8, that's going to let us know here concerning as Jesus comes to collect the bride, the church, believers, there's to be purity with the bride. So, verse 8. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. So, theologically, our righteous purity and radiance, that comes from God who credits to our account the righteousness of Christ Jesus. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. uh... paul talked about that in second corinthians paul told the philippians and be found in him not having my own righteousness but that which is from god by faith my righteousness the bible says and my good works and my righteousness are like filthy rags and god's side he's holy he's pure That's why it took a holy God who took on flesh, Christ Jesus, the incarnation, and He lived a holy life, met God's standards and put Himself on the cross. And I just think how wonderful to have the full assurance that my friends as believers, we are close in the righteousness of Jesus Christ and we'll be present with Him at this celebration. But that last phrase that Pastor Mark read there in verse 8, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. We read in Ephesians 2 10, for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. In other words, there's both the righteousness of Christ in our wedding gowns, as well as the righteous deeds that we wear as believers, which will be evidently, I mean, it seems to be apparent to everyone else at the supper. This reminds us again of the judgment seat of Christ, and if you've been with us at Brookside, we've been in 2 Corinthians in our study, and it goes right to chapter 5. Paul dealt with it in the book of Romans too, this judgment seat of Christ where we're going to give an account on how we lived our Christian lives. We're going to be rewarded for that. This judgment, or bima in the Greek, occurs immediately in heaven after the rapture of the church. It's addressed in three passages. I mentioned Paul in Romans, it's Romans 14, and then Paul actually deals with it in 1 Corinthians 3, along with 2 Corinthians 5. Only church-age believers, and friends, this would be us, This would be us, that we're in Christ, we're going to appear at this judgment. And Paul to the Corinthian believers said we must all appear, it's all inclusive, before the judgment seat of Christ. And the purpose of the bema is not to pronounce condemnation. And a lot of you might have as one of your favorite verses, Romans 8.1, it promises us this, there is there now for no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. No one's going to be judged at this court of the judgment seat is going to be condemned. For everyone there is a follower of Jesus Christ. But this judgment will be an evaluation of how we lived our lives on this earth and rewarded accordingly. Paul also declares each man's praise will come to him from God. One pastor said it this way, and I quote, God gives rewards to the victors. He does not whip the losers. The judgment seat of Christ is not to determine if we'll be in the bridal party. For everyone at the Bema seat, judgment is a believer. But according to verse eight, it will affect the look of our own wedding garments. Think of it as a graduation robe. You go to graduation and all the graduates are in their robes, but some have medallions and different colored cords decorating their robes, indicating high honors or accomplishments. The point is that we will all be in robes showing not what we didn't do, but displaying for what we have done for Christ. You know, my wife, Kathy, and I have been married now for 41 years. I don't know if she's listening. I hope I'm right on that. But, and our love for one another has grown over those years. you would probably say you and Naomi. You know, how long have you been married? 48. Oh man, you were right on target with that, 48 years. And you would say, our love has grown even deeper and closer. That's exactly the love and the fellowship that we have with Christ Jesus. It should be growing It shouldn't be decreasing, it should be growing. Just as the marriage demands loyalty and faithfulness, so we must really offer absolute loyalty and faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ. Even in this life, friends, if a married couple are not faithful to one another, it's going to be a horrible marriage if it even stays together. Most likely it wouldn't stay together. One author wrote this, and I quote, how true it is that we weave on earth what we wear in heaven. Sometimes the reality of that has not sunk in, that how we use the gifts God gave us on earth will determine the way we are presented with the bridegroom when he comes. I mean, it's a challenging thought. It reminds me of one of the familiar lines, only one life will soon be passed, only what's done for Christ will last. In 1 Corinthians chapter 3, Paul is using the analogy of creating a building in reference to our works. He said, each one's works which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. You know, if I build on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stone, or wood, hay, stubble. The metals will be preserved, but the wood, hay, and straw or stubble are gonna be burned up. And that sounds a lot like the story of the three little pigs, doesn't it? Building with wood, hay, and stubble. The difference between gold, silver, and precious stone is quite a contrast to wood, hay, and stubble. Gold, silver, and precious stones, you have to dig for, you have to work. Whereas wood, hay, and stubble just kind of lie there on the ground and they're there for the taking. Gold, silver, and precious stones endure and that makes them priceless. Whereas wood, hay, and stubble are really, my friends, only temporary. So friends, as believers, there's coming a day when God is going to give us, I guess you could call it a torch test. which of any of our works will last after this fire. God is going to put your life to the test one day. And I gotta admit, it may only be a heartbeat away. Finally, here, look at verse 9, we have a privilege that the bride has. Then he said to me, write, blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, these are the true sayings of God. We come now to the fourth beatitude in the book of Revelation, this time announcing the blessedness. Remember the beatitudes there in the Sermon on the Mount, blessed are those who hunger and thirst after, blessed are the, I mean, you see that blessed are those. Here we have it right here, blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. the brides of church, the attendants are the saints before and after the church age, and John the Baptist described himself as a friend of the bridegroom. Again, we have to, I mean, we're just reminded of this all the time. This world, my friends, is not our home. We're aliens, we're sojourners here. So, we're not to be worshiping the wealth of Babylon or the power of Babylon or even the pleasures of Babylon that we studied. Before we came into chapter 19, we studied verses, chapter 17 and 18. Nor are we to worship the angel who brings the news of Babylon's destruction. My friends, keep our focus, we're to worship God. The worship of God for the lamb. And so verse nine, we see his words are true. And he said to me, these are the true sayings of God. Think of those persecuted Christians and the encouragement of hearing these words that God's kingdom will triumph. I mean, we know who wins in the end. And so, here his words are true and verse 10 lets us know his words are a testimony. Why don't you read verse 10 for us? and I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, see that you do not do that. I am your fellow servant and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. John the Apostle here is so overwhelmed with the fulfillment of all of this that he just wants to worship. He wants to worship right away, so he falls at the feet of the angel and he starts to worship him. And the angel quickly rebukes and reminds him, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. You only are to worship God. listening to one pastor, he reminded me that worship is the theme of redemptive history, and the purpose for which believers are redeemed is in order that we would worship God. Friends, we'll be worshiping God all throughout eternity. Join us as we finish looking at what takes place here. We'll spend a little bit more time in our next broadcast in verse 10. Trust that you have just a wonderful new year. If we can be of help to you, if you're not in a church home, please come by and see us. We would love to have you here at Brookside. So thank you. And we look forward to our next time together. We hope you enjoyed today's program. If you have a question we can answer, or would like information on the Word for Life, would like to donate to continue to produce this broadcast, or need resources for your Christian walk, contact us at Brookside Baptist Church, 4470 North Pilgrim Road, Brookfield, Wisconsin, 53005. You can also visit us at brooksidebc.org. That's brooksidebc.org. or call us at 262-783-6180. That's 262-783-6180. Thanks for listening today, and please tune in again as we bring the Word of God to your life. you