Lesson 464 - Junior

Memory Verse

"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING Of Kings, And LORD Of Lords" (Revelation 19:16).

Notes

The Hallelujah Chorus

While John the Beloved was on the Isle of Patmos, where he had been sent because he preached about Jesus, he heard and saw a great many marvellous sights. The Lord showed him things that should happen in the future.

In this lesson we learn that John heard a great Hallelujah Chorus in Heaven, the redeemed of the Lord, and this is the song they sang: " Allelujah, Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: for true and righteous are his judgments." When this great host, no doubt millions and millions, sang, it sounded as a great body of water and as loud thunderings: "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready."

Often in church services the saints of God blend their voices as they sing God's praises; but this heavenly chorus will be greater and more glorious than any chorus we have ever heard.

It was almost as if a curtain had been drawn back and John could see far, far into the future, when Jesus Christ shall be united with His Bride, the overcomers, who have made themselves ready. We read: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" [1CO:2:9]). At this great Marriage Supper, Jesus Himself shall serve.

Near at Hand

This was written more than 2000 years ago; but today, as we study God's Word, we realise that it is not in the far distant future, but "the time is at hand" [REV:1:3]). Knowing this, let us study this chapter with the thought in mind that these words are for our benefit; this is not just a vision which John saw, but a message that should cause us to search our heart to make sure we are ready.

The Bride of Christ

John writes that the Bride of Christ is dressed in fine linen, clean and white, and explains that this is "the righteousness of saints," which typifies a clean, sanctified heart.

In this course of study we have learned much about being saved from sin; and after that, consecrating our life and seeking sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. We have learned that without holiness no man shall see the Lord, we have learned that the extra supply of "oil," or Spirit of God, is necessary in order to keep our lamp burning until the Bridegroom comes.

The Coming of Jesus

There are two parts, or stages, to the coming of Jesus: His coming as a thief in the night to rapture the waiting Bride, followed by the Marriage Supper of the Lamb; and after that, the coming of Jesus at the Revelation, when every eye shall see Him. John describes this coming in verses 11 to 16 of Revelation 19 [REV:19:11-16]). Let us try to see the picture he describes. First he sees the heaven open and a white horse appear; riding upon this horse is Jesus Christ, whose eyes are as a flame of fire and on His head are many crowns. His clothing had been dipped in blood and His name is called "The Word of God." He also has a name on His clothing and on His thigh, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Oh, what a picture!

A sharp sword proceeded out of His mouth, that with it He should smite, or destroy, the nations; and He shall rule with a rod of iron. With those eyes of fire and that sharp sword He can see and destroy everything sinful and unclean.

The Saints on White Horses

"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." That can be none other than the saints, the Bride already mentioned in verse seven. No one will have part in this whose heart is not pure and holy. The Bride "hath made herself ready." We know that it takes the Blood of Jesus to save us and to sanctify us, but there is something more we must do. We must receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, too. Then we must watch, pray, read the Word, take advantage of every opportunity to attend the meetings, win souls for Jesus, consecrate and yield our life daily to God. Let us never fold our arms and say, "I am saved; I am sanctified; I have the baptism; I am ready for the coming of Jesus, and there is nothing more for me to do."

The Antichrist

We learned in Lesson 462 of the beast, also known as the Antichrist. John tells of this beast and the wicked kings of the earth gathering their armies to fight against the King of kings and Lord of lords and His army. But we know who won the battle -- the Captain of our salvation! We read in [2TS:2:8], that the Lord shall consume "that Wicked . . . with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." He took the beast and the false prophet and cast them alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone, a place of eternal torture because the fire is never put out, and man does not burn up and die. He will suffer a living death.

The Sword

The armies of the beast and the false prophet were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of Christ upon the white horse. Many times in the Scriptures, the Bible is referred to as a "sword." Jesus said, "The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" [JHN:12:48]). In [HEB:4:12] we read that the Word of God is "sharper than any two-edged sword" and it has power even to search out our very thoughts and intentions. John said that out of the mouth of Jesus "went a sharp two-edged sword." This sword is symbolic of the Word of God by which man shall be judged. With that "sword" Jesus shall "smite the nations."

The Supper of the Great God

Another marvellous sight which John saw was an angel standing in the sun who cried with a loud voice calling all the fowls, or birds, that fly in the sky, "Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." What a feast, when all the vultures, crows, sea gulls, blue jays, hawks, eagles, and every kind of bird from all over the world shall gather in one place to eat the flesh of the wicked men who fought against Christ and were defeated!

"KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS"

The King of kings has won the victory over the powers of Satan! Is it any wonder that the elders fell down and worshipped Him? Is it any wonder that the great company in Heaven sang "Alleluia" to the Lord of lords? Oh, that all men everywhere would fall down before Him now and surrender their life unto Him and join with those who worship this great King.

Have you crowned Him the King of your life? Do you honour Him in all that you do and say? Are you a child of the King?

Questions

1. What was the song that the Hallelujah Chorus in Heaven sang?

2. What is meant by the Marriage of the Lamb?

3. How was the Bride clothed?

4. What did this typify?

5. Describe the King who rode upon the white horse.

6. What was the clothing of those who followed Him upon white horses?

7. What announcement did the angel make who stood in the sun?

8. Against whom did the kings of the earth and their armies make war?

9. What does the sword that proceeds out of the mouth of Christ typify?

10. What warnings for us are contained in this chapter?