The first reason for Jesus’ second coming, Restorative Justice
Introduction
In this session, Revelation chapter 19:1-10, we understand that Jesus will come again on earth for two main purposes: first, to take his bride for the wedding ceremony (restorative justice), and second, to conquer his enemies against him and his bride. (Punishment justice -retributive justice). In this session, we specifically look at the first reason for his coming, which is to reward his beloved. This is compared to a wedding supper with three characters: the bride, the bridegroom, and those invited for the wedding supper.
Objectives
By the end of this session, the learner will have:
- Understood the main purposes of the Second Coming of Jesus by analyzing the text provided
- Appreciated the context of the word of God by listing the 11 steps of a Jewish wedding ceremony
- I understood what would happen to those who rejected the bridegroom’s offer.
Outline
- Two purposes of the Second Coming of Jesus
- Stages of the Jewish wedding ceremony
- The bridegroom and his bride
- The end of the beast and the false prophet
Group Study Time
Revelation 19: 1-10
Connecting
- Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
- Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
- Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
- Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.
Comprehending
- What is a wedding? How is a wedding conducted in your culture? Write 5 things that characterize a victorious wedding
- What is said about the Lord Jesus, our Bridegroom? Rev 19: 1-3.
- List of those invited to the wedding ceremony and what their role is. Rev 19: 4-7
- Read Rev 19: 1-10. List at least 5 things revealed about the wedding of Jesus and his bride, the Church. (The bridegroom, the bride, those invited)
Committing
- Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
- List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
- Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
- Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
- Sin to confess
- Promise to claim
- Attitude to change
- Command to keep
- Error to change
- Prayer to make
- Example to copy
- Truth to obey and
- Something praiseworthy
Communicating
- Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
- Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
- Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.
Post Lesson Teaching Summary
Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!
The first reason for Jesus’ second coming, Restorative Justice
Revelation 19: 1-10
Audio Summary
Revelation 19:1-10
- Context:
- Revelation 19, set during the tribulation after the rapture, celebrates heaven’s response to Babylon’s fall and the marriage supper of the Lamb, affirming God’s victory and reign.
- With the church raptured, this passage invites believers to join heaven’s rejoicing over God’s justice and the bride’s readiness.
- Heaven’s Hallelujahs and the Marriage Supper (Revelation 19:1-10):
- First Hallelujah: Babylon’s Judgment (vv. 1-2): After Babylon’s fall (ch. 18), a great multitude in heaven shouts, “Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God.” God’s true and just judgments condemn the great prostitute for corrupting the earth with adultery, avenging His servants’ blood.
- Second Hallelujah: Eternal Destruction (v. 3): Heaven shouts another “Hallelujah!” as Babylon’s smoke rises forever, her burning (orchestrated by the beast and ten kings, ch. 17) signaling her permanent end.
- Third Hallelujah: Worship of God (vv. 4-5): The 24 elders and four living creatures fall down, crying, “Amen, Hallelujah!” A voice from the throne calls all God’s servants, great and small, to praise God for defeating this demonic counterfeit church.
- Fourth Hallelujah: God’s Reign (v. 6): A multitude, like rushing waters and thunder, shouts, “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns,” celebrating God’s eternal rule over fleeting evil.
- Marriage Supper of the Lamb (vv. 7-9): Heaven rejoices for the wedding of the Lamb; the bride (church, raptured in ch. 4) is ready, wearing fine, bright, clean linen—her righteous acts. Blessed are those invited (tribulation saints and angels, not the bride) to the supper, a seven-year feast mirroring Jewish wedding customs.
- Worship God Alone (v. 10): John, awed, tries to worship the angel, who refuses, saying, “Worship God alone!” Angels are fellow servants, bearing Jesus’ testimony through prophecy.
- God’s Mercy: Judging Babylon and inviting all to the Lamb’s supper show God’s desire for salvation, urging repentance and faithfulness to Christ.
- Application:
- Join heaven’s praise for God’s justice against evil; prepare as Christ’s bride through righteous acts, worshiping God alone and awaiting the marriage supper.