Union, not Devouring, for Us

Rev 19:6, 9a, 11, 17-21

9 Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!...

17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” 

19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh."

Herod kills James at the beginning (Acts 12:1-3), but in the end, the church is growing and Herod is rotting (Acts 12:23-24). It is the same with this table. Pilate kills Jesus, but in the end, it will be those at enmity with Christ including the kings, who are devoured. Our sacrifice and trials, like Christ’s cup of wrath, will turn to reward, favor and joy. Their wickedness will turn to worms, decay and burning. We don’t need to focus on this gruesome supper, but we shouldn’t ignore it completely, either. Jesus has enemies who will be overcome in the end, but right now they can do us damage in body and soul. Let us keep an eye on the devil who seeks to devour us, but who will be devoured.

Now let us focus on the supper of the Lord Jesus. When we eat this bread and drink this wine, we are acting out our union and communion with Christ. We are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bone. We abide in Him, the vine, drawing life from His life. He is the bread come down from heaven. If we eat that bread, which means abide in Him, we will live forever. We have no life without the body and blood of Jesus.

8/19/12