Project 119: Heaven and Nature Sing | Revelation 19
| Project 119 | Amy Hirsch
Reading for Saturday, December 19: Revelation 19
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
-"Once in Royal David's City"
I first heard the song “Once in Royal David’s City” at a traditional Nine Lessons and Carols service, and it quickly became one of my favorites because of its rich theology—and because it recognizes that the story of Christmas doesn’t leave us in the stable at a manger, as Tim reminded us yesterday. No, the story of Christmas continues on, and in fact, John’s vision in the book of Revelation takes us to another scene yet to come, to a wedding.
What does a wedding have to do with Christmas? Throughout Scripture, God’s people have been depicted as His bride—albeit, often an unfaithful bride. But the good news of the gospel is that God continues to pursue His people, calling them back to Himself. In fact, the Christmas story is the story of God sending the groom, Jesus, to us, so that we might know Him and have life in His name! John’s vision looks forward to an event known as the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, when the bride, all of God’s children, will gather together celebrating her union with Jesus, the Groom. We’ll be dressed in white, “fine linen, bright and pure” (Revelation 19:8 ESV). On that day, we will be resplendently clothed in white, like the bride coming down the aisle to meet her groom, knowing that our white garments have been purchased for us by the blood of the Lamb and given to us by His grace.
Notice that the Jesus we met in Bethlehem looks very different than the Jesus we see in Revelation 19. (And, He may bear little resemblance to any groom you’ve ever seen!) In verses 11-16, John describes Jesus in a way that makes Him appear less like a groom in a tuxedo and more like a Warrior King! He rides upon a white horse and His eyes flame like fire; He is crowned with diadems, clothed in a robe covered in blood, on His way to war. The story of Christmas takes us to the book of Revelation because it is the story of God’s final and full defeat over evil. On that day, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the only one who has the authority to sit at the right hand of God, will speak and all wickedness will be vanquished.
As we anticipate celebrating Christmas, we look forward to this day, when God’s children will gather again, not around a manger, but at a wedding feast, worshiping not a baby but a Warrior King who has come to deliver us once and for all from evil forever, fully, and finally. God will dwell with us in the new Jerusalem, in a city “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:1 ESV), wiping away every tear from our eyes, for death, and mourning, and pain will be no more (Revelation 21:4).