The Beloved Disciple

by Beth Moore

  My favorite songs are the ones that become "mine" over time as I sing them to God through the filter of my own experience and affection. Though such preferences may seem self-centered and absorbed, praise and worship are very personal to me. In fact, as long as our feet are planted on the soil of earth, I know of few more intimate encounters than raising our voices in worship to the God of heaven. When I am most involved in worship, I may as well be completely alone in the sanctuary with Him.

  Nothing provokes a new song in my heart like a fresh surge of hope in a wilderness season. The song "Shout to the Lord" will forever be special to me because I first heard it at a time of deep personal suffering. The words came to my soul from God as hope that I would survive ... and even thrive once again. Allow me to use this song as an illustration for Revelation 14:3. First I "heard" the "new" song then I "learned" it. My motivation to "learn" it came through its voice to my experience in that difficult but strangely beautiful season with my God.

  John "heard" the "new song," but "no one could learn the song" except the 144,000 that had been redeemed from the earth. The Greek word for "new" in reference to the new song in Revelation 14:3 implies new in quality as opposed to number. In other words, the song wasn't new like a new release in Christian contemporary music. The song of the 144,000 was new because it had an entirely different quality from anything they'd sung before. In other words, it meant something to them no other song had ever meant. Why couldn't anyone else learn it? Because no one else had ever lived it. Out of their unique experience, God gave them a song that only they could learn.

  Psalm 40 tells us God gave David a new song when He lifted him out of the slimy pit. I'd like to suggest that each of us who is willing can also receive a new song from God that arises in our souls out of hardship's vic­tories ... not necessarily in musical notes but in fresh truths engraved on the heart. These are precious gifts that eventually come to those who keep the faith and wait to see God redeem great difficulty. These songs can be "heard" by others, but they cannot be "learned" secondhand.

  This concept is both the life and near-death of me at times. I love the gift of new songs that finally emerge like frolicking whales from the deep waters of trial or suffering. At the same time, I am inexpressibly frustrated that I cannot talk someone into loving and trusting God and finding His Son to be the greatest adventure in life. I want so badly for each member of the body of Christ to love Jesus passionately and live the excitement of His abundant life that I could sob. I practically jump up and down in min­istry insisting, "If He'll do this for me, He'll do this for anyone!" Until indi­viduals let Jesus redeem their own personal lives, hurts, losses, and failures, they can hear the song, but they cannot learn it. Songs of the heart are only learned through personal faith experience. Once we learn the songs, how­ever, no one can take them from us.

  Do you have a testimony about a time when God gave you a new song or a new hope in a virtually hopeless situation? Don't forget to thank Him for it.

  Chapter 47

  THE WRATH OF GOD

  I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels

  with the seven last plagues-last, because with them God's

  wrath is completed. (Revelation 15:1)

  I deeply hope that our previous lesson prepared us to some extent for our next focus. Unfortunately, we cannot be serious students about what John seemed to want us to know most and avoid the subject of God's wrath. If Revelation were a movie, the following images would undoubt­edly send me out for another refill of popcorn. However, Revelation is no movie. It's also nonfiction.

  Perhaps the truest words that ever fall from tainted human lips are these: God is faithful. Indeed He is. What may trouble us is that He is always faithful. In other words, God always does what He insists He will whether we like it or not. The idealist in me wishes the wrath of God didn't even exist and would never be unleashed.

  Then the realist in me

  · reads accounts of unspeakable cruelties and abuses to children;

  · reviews a human history blighted by war crimes and bloody crusades spearheaded by those claiming to act in God's name;

  · hears the name of God mocked, profaned, and derided publicly through various forms of media;

  · listens to the arrogant who have convinced themselves they are gods;

  · sees the violence bred by hatred, ignorance, and prejudice; and

  · stands by while princes of the earth lay their bricks on an unseen but very present Tower of Babel.

  I look around me and shudder with horror over and over again, ask­ing, "Where is the fear of God?" Then I shake my head and wonder what kind of inconceivable power God must use to restrain Himself.

  I don't even have to look as far as the world. At times in my life I've looked no further than my own mirror or my own church and won­dered the words of Lamentations 3:22, "Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed." I have said to Him more times than I can count, "Lord, why You do not rend this earth and swallow up Your own people, not to mention this godless world, is beyond me." Of course, I know He spares believers because He did not spare His own Son (Rom. 8:32).

  Why does God continue to put up with a world that increasingly mocks Him? Why does He wait? For all of time, the most succinct answer to those questions can be found in 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

  In some ways the wrath of God will simply finish off what man started. I am convinced that mankind will do a proficient job of nearly destroying himself and his own planet based on the wars and conflicts prophesied in Scripture. God's Word promises a new heaven and a new earth but not until this one is destroyed. Matthew 24 prophesies increas­ing wickedness and destruction with a mounting strength and frequency of birth pains. Toward the very end of this age, God will allow the full measure of all permissible wrath to be poured out upon this earth: the wrath of man (never underestimate it), the unholy wrath of Satan, and the holy wrath of God. No wonder this time of great tribulation will be like no other.

  The wrath described in the Book of Revelation unfolds in a somewhat mysterious sequence: seals, trumpets, and bowls. The seals introduce the trumpets, and the trumpets usher in the bowls. You can read the account in the following sections of Scripture:

  · The seals: Revelation 6; 8:1-5

  · The trumpets: Revelation 8:6-13; 9

  · The bowls: Revelation 16

  Unsettling is an understatement. My horror is primarily for those who refuse to believe. In 1 Thessalonians 1:10 Paul called Jesus the one "who rescues us from the coming wrath."

  I am not implying that believers won't go through terrible times. The Word clearly states we will (2 Tim. 3:1), and many Christians already are. My point is that the wrath of God described in the Book of Revelation is not toward the redeemed. They will either be delivered from it or through it. I believe the greatest evangelism explosion of all times will occur during the end of times. The inoculation against the coming wrath of God is con­fessing His Son as Savior and repenting of sin. No one who comes to Him with a sincere heart of reception and repentance will be refused ... unless they wait too late. I so badly did not want to write that last phrase.

  God will reveal Himself in countless ways toward the end of times, pouring out His Spirit, His wonders, and His mercies. Those mercies, however, are dealt according to demand. In other words, some people respond to tender mercies. Others don't respond until God shows severe mercies. Others don't respond at all. Never forget that God wants to save people and not destroy them. During the last days the heavens will show so many signs, and evangelists will preach so powerfully that I am con­vinced people will practically have to work at refusing Him. Yet many trag­ically will.

  The apostle Paul warned that "because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his
righteous judgment will be revealed" (Rom. 2:5). People will not refuse Him because God didn't love them or make provision for them. Beloved, please hear my heart. The wrath of God cannot be separated from His character and person. In other words, even in His unleashed wrath, God cannot be less than who He is. God is holy. He is good. He is love. God is righteous, and God is right. The Judge will judge, but, unlike ours, His judgments are always based on truth (Rom. 2:2).

  Ours is also a God of inconceivable compassion, forgiveness, and mercy. I need look no further than the hands on this keyboard for proof. How He has forgiven me! When others might have left me for dead and said I got what I deserved, He tended my filthy, self-inflicted wounds and pulled me from the ditch.

  God's heart is neither mean nor unjust. He is holy. And beloved, the holy God will judge this world. The day of the Lord will come, and none will doubt He is God. He will not be mocked. He'd have to be untrue to His own character to do otherwise.

  Between and woven within the sets of seals, trumpets, and bowls, God placed other messages that accompany His judgment. I love the words found in Revelation 15. John saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. The victorious believers stood beside the sea holding harps. "They ... sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb" (v 3).

  I love the reference to the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. You see, God will bring perfect order and completion out of a season that will seem the ultimate chaos and destruction. The end of times will culmi­nate in the brilliant plan of God rising from the smoldering tomb of earth. From the back this resurrected life looks like the old covenant. From the front it looks like the new covenant. But when all is said and done, the two will be seen as they were always intended: as one perfect whole. As one per­fect life: Christ's. All will make sense.

  "Great and marvelous are your deeds,

  Lord God Almighty.

  Just and true are your ways,

  King of the ages.

  Who will not fear you, O Lord,

  and bring glory to your name?

  For you alone are holy.

  All nations will come

  and worship before you,

  for your righteous acts have been revealed." (Rev. 15:3-4)

  Chapter 48

  THE WEDDING FEAST

  Let us rejoice and be glad

  and give him glory!

  For the wedding of the Lamb has come,

  and his bride has made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7)

  We've traced the footsteps of the apostle John from the Galilean shore all over Israel. Sometimes John's were the only apostle prints we found, like in the High Priest's courtyard and then nearby the cross. We followed him to Patmos and Ephesus. But one day we'll follow him home. I have loved our journey together, but it's not over yet. We'll pick up the trail together again one day when all roads for believers lead to heaven. On that great and glorious day may each of our footprints be found in the banquet hall where we'll celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb. Until then let's anticipate.

  The beauty of being in a women's Bible study is that every now and then we get the opportunity to look at a particular section of Scripture just from a woman's point of view. And I'm going to tell you something: this lesson is a woman thing. To any men reading along, I'll just have to ask for your patience.

  Let's capture Revelation 19:7-9 in our imagination today. I believe I want to begin reading at verse 4:

  The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures

  fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they

  cried:

  "Amen and hallelujah!"

  Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

  "Praise our God,

  all you his servants, you who fear him,

  both small and great!"

  Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar

  of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

  "Hallelujah!

  For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

  Let us rejoice and be glad

  and give him glory!

  For the wedding of the Lamb has come,

  and his bride"

  (Stop a moment and capture that, His bride)

  "has made herself ready.

  Fine linen, bright and clean,

  was given her to wear."

  (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

  Then the angel said to me, "Write: `Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!"' And he added, "These are the true words of God."

  At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testi­mony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

  I saw heaven standing open.... (Rev. 19:4-11)

  Cinderella, here is your Prince Charming:

  "And there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself." (Rev. 19:11-12)

  There is a name that has been withheld from human knowledge. Never profaned. Celebrate with me today, this name has never even touched human lips. A name that He alone knows. "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were fol­lowing Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean" (vv 13-14).

  Now who have we seen, in this context, dressed in fine linen, white and clean? That's the bride. "Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. `He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (vv 15-16). For the wedding supper of the Lamb has come.

  We have no idea what this wedding ceremony is going to be like. No matter what we could conjure up in our imagination, it will be far from it. But wouldn't it be fun, just you and me, if we tried to picture it based on some suggestions that we might find in Scripture? And if we could in some way prepare in such a way to build with anticipation toward that day? Would that be part of the bride making herself ready?

  I can tell you that that's all we're about at my house right now. By the time you are reading this, our daughter Amanda will be a bride. We are in the throes of planning. The only part that makes the rest of the work and planning worth it is building the anticipation about what it will be like. What makes all of the details worth it is that we are anticipating a grand celebration. Now as that is true of the Moore household planning for an earthly wedding, imagine how much greater the truth applies to our upcoming wedding to Christ. I want to just look at these verses and a num­ber of others to see some scriptural hints about what our wedding might be like.

  Notice that the call to the wedding begins with a very important word: Hallelujah. This significant call to worship may suggest that though every single nation, tribe, and tongue will be part of this glorious wedding, God reserves the right to make sure that this wedding is decidedly Jewish. The call to worship is, "Hallelujah!" That is a very Jewish word.

  So based on that little suggestion, I just want to say I have an idea. I'm not sure if I'm right about this. But I just have an idea that what we have in front of us-after all, we do have a Jewish bridegroom--is a grand Jewish wedding. And I have been to Jewish weddings. We have the wonderful blessing in Houston of being friends with some people who are Orthodox Jews. As long as I will keep my mouth shut, they invite me over. We've been able to have Passover several times, and we've been able to go to weddings.

  I've been to all sorts of denominational weddings. May I just say, ain't nothin' like the Jewish version. This is the kind I want. I did quite a lot of research for this particular lesson about ancient Hebrew weddings. We're just going to consider some suggestions of wh
at our wedding might be like based on Jewish customs through the centuries. So first of all, we've already intimated that perhaps it's going to be of a Jewish flavor.

  2. In ancient Hebrew tradition, the actual wedding arrangements were the responsibility of the groom and his father. I love it that the bride is even given her dress. "Fine linen ... was given her to wear" (v. 8). I have to tell you, never in my life has anything struck me like seeing my own twenty-two­ year-old daughter in that wedding dress after we bought the veil. When they put the veil on that child, this mother has never seen anything so enchanting in my life. Thinking of that scene, I'm just trying to imagine the bride of Christ dressed in fine linen.

  From among many I want to show you one particular Scripture refer­ence to back up the point that the father prepared for the wedding. Judges 14:10 says, "Now his father went down to see the woman." This is who Samson wants to marry. "And Samson made a feast there, as was custom­ary for bridegrooms. When he appeared, he was given thirty companions." In their tradition the father and the son made all the arrangements.

  That's wonderful news for us. The words of John 14 are echoing in my mind: "I go to prepare a place for you that where I am you may be also. And I'm going to come and get you," and I'm now paraphrasing, but I believe Jesus was saying, "When the place I'm preparing is ready, I'll come back and get you." We have the wonderful fortune of having as our bride­groom someone who happens to be a carpenter. So He's building well!

  Jesus is preparing a place for us, built onto His Father's house. And when it's prepared, He is coming for us. All the arrangements will be made. We are responsible for one thing. We see that in the next point.

  3. The chief responsibility of the bride was to make herself ready. Now before I try to explain this, I want to tell you something my Jewish guide Arie shared with me. He said, "Of course, Beth, you are bringing up the contract." Because, he said, "We're one of the only peoples of the world who have to sign a contract of this sort to get married." And he said, "It's called the ketubbah." What he told me fascinated me. The wife does not have to sign any part of it. This is strictly about the husband, strictly about the groom.