A Tale of Two Suppers

For twenty years, Odysseus had been gone. He’d sailed off to war at Troy, and he never came back. And while he was gone, his house on the island of Ithaca filled up with men who wanted his wife. Not a few of them. Homer counts a hundred and eight.

Every day, they sat at his table, ate his cattle, and drank his wine. And they all said the same thing: e’s dead, so pick one of us.

At one point two eagles swooped down over the crowd, and an old man stood up and said it was a sign Odysseus would come home in the twentieth year. One of the suitors told him to go home and prophesy to his own children, saying: “Birds are always flying about in the sunshine somewhere or other, but they seldom mean anything.” They were convinced that Odysseus had died in a far country, and that was that.

Meanwhile, upstairs, his wife Penelope wouldn’t let him go. Night after night, Homer tells us, she “mourned her dear husband” until sleep finally came.

She held those men off for years. But they kept badgering to move on and to marry one of them. And so she told them she’d choose a husband as soon as she finished weaving a burial shroud. So all day long she wove. But then every night, by torchlight, she pulled the stitches back out. and she did that every night for three years.

Then one day a stranger shows up at the door, dressed like a beggar. The suitors mock him. They throw things at him. But they have no idea who that beggar really was. Because that beggar was Odysseus, who had finally come home.

And when he finally picks up his bow, the first man he aims at is Antinous, the ringleader. Homer says Antinous “was about to take up a two-handled gold cup to drink his wine and already had it in his hands. He had no thought of death.”

See, those suitors weren’t just rude houseguests. Their whole life was built on one bet: he’s never coming back. And the whole time, Penelope lived her life built on one bet: he is coming back. Two kinds of people in the same house, waiting on the same man. One was aching for him to come home. The other was eating and waiting for him to be forgotten.

And church, every time we come to this Table, we’re saying which kind we are. Are we eating hoping and believing Christ will return. Or are we eating hoping He won’t. Because in Revelation 19, God shows His people the two very different suppers that await when the King finally returns.

Until the day our King returns, we must:

1. Rejoice in His Judgments (vv. 1–5)
2. Ready Ourselves for the Wedding Supper (vv. 6–10)
3. Rally to the Returning King (vv. 11–16)
4. Reckon with the Other Supper (vv. 17–21)

1. Rejoice in His Judgments (vv. 1–5)

The past several weeks we’ve been in a series on communion looking at what it means, and how we are supposed to approach the table. We began by looking at 1 Corinthians 10, where we saw how “privilege doesn’t give permission” to feast at the table of idols. And so we must decide, will we feast at the table of demons, or at the table of the Lord? And the feast of demons leads to judgment, just like Lewi Israel experienced in the wilderness. And so don’t tickle the dragon’s tale, like our friend Louis Slotin did.

Then we looked at 1 Corinthians 11, and how the rich Corinthians Christians were going ahed with their own meal, putting themselves first, as the poor went hungry. And like John Newton, they never saw the people below the deck, who were people Christ loved and died for. And then, as we saw last week, we saw how Paul told them that some of them were weak, sick, and some had even died, Because the Lord disciplines His people so they won’t be condemned along with the world.

But through this, we’ve kept coming back to 1 Cor 11 verse 26, which says:

²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26 ESV

We talked about what the bread and cup mean. We talked about how we proclaim it. But today we are talking about that word until. Because when we gather at the Lord’s table, we not only look back, but we look forward. And what we are looking forward to, is a feast! And so this morning, we are looking at Revelation 19, to see where this table is headed.

The entire Bible is one big story - which is God’s story of redemption. And like every good story, it wraps things up before it ends. And that’s what we find in this chapter. We find a wedding where the King returns to feast with His bride.

But before we get to that wedding, There’s a funeral.

In Revelation 18, John tells us about the death of a city called Babylon the great. She’s the great prostitute of chapter 17, who is dressed in purple and scarlet, and holds “a golden cup full of abominations.” And in chapter 18, her shopping list reads like a royal banquet. Fine lijnen, purple, silk, wine, oil, fine flour, and wheat Oh, and one more thing. "and slaves, that is, human souls."

That’s Babylon. Rich, seductive, powerful, and built on people. She corrupted the earth and got drunk on the blood of the saints. And the kings of the earth "lived in luxury with her." But it’s a fatal attraction, Because as John tells us, she "has become a dwelling place for demons." If you were here for the first sermon in this series, you know what kind of table that is.

So this harlot, Babylon, she is so sure the party will never end. In her heart she says, "I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see." That's the suitors' bet right there. Betting the king will never come home.

But then, John tells us, in a single hour, she falls. The kings weep. The merchants cry. And the lights go out: "the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more … and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more." No more bread. No more weddings. Turn out the lights, because Babylon's party is over.

But just as the lights turn off for Babylon’s party of sin, another light turns on at the end of that chapter, as an angel calls out the other direction: "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” and in chapter 19 is heaven doing exactly that.

And why is heaven singing? Because verse 2. "for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants." In chapter 6 of Revelation we find the souls of the martyrs crying out: How long, O Lord until you avenge our blood. And here’s the answer to that prayer. He has judged. He has avenged.

Now, some of us get a little uncomfortable here. Should Christians be cheering when a city burns? But heaven isn’t celebrating suffering. It’s celebrating that God is “true and just.” Babylon trafficked in human souls and murdered God’s people, and for a long time it looked like she’d get away with it. She didn’t.

Verse 3 says the smoke from her goes up forever and ever, and the elders cry, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And in verse 5, the voice from the throne calls out, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” That certainly includes the rich and poor we saw in 1 Corinthians 11. Hang on to that phrase, “small and great.” Because it shows up again.

Here’s the point. God will judge the wicked! His bow is already bent, and Babylon is in His sights. SO DON’T ENVY HER! Yes, there is a future and final Babylon coming. But there’s a form of her here already, isn’t there? This whole world system is built on the same things: wealth, seduction, power, and people. It’s cut from the same cloth as the Babylon John saw.

But it’s a fatal attraction. Because the world promises you the world, but only leads to the table of demons and destruction! It whispers that wealth, luxury, sex, and power will satisfy you. But they won’t. One day, everything she sold you goes up in smoke.

So here’s the test. Can you rejoice at God’s judgment of her? Because it’s hard to rejoice over Babylon’s fall when we’ve been wishing we could afford a place there. And if you can’t rejoice, ask yourself what she’s still selling you. And then get up from her table. Love God’s justice and righteousness, and HATE EVIL and FLEE from it.

Because one day, there will be two sounds over Babylon: the kings of the earth weeping, and heaven shouting Hallelujah. So make sure you know in which camp you’ll be.

Until the day our King returns, we must:

2. Ready Ourselves for the Wedding Supper (vv. 6–10)

In Revelation 19, We find a chapter with the four great Hallels. Which is a Hebrew word that means, “Praise the Lord.” “Hallel” means “praise,” and the “jah” at the end is short for God’s name. And this is the only place in the whole New Testament you’ll find it.

Are you ready to see something amazing in the Bible? Say “yes.” That word “hallel” has an important connection to the Passover table. “OK, why’s that amazing” you ask. Oh let me show you.

What was Passover? It was when the Jewish people put the blood of a spotless lamb on the doorframes. and what happened? The Lord passed over their home. And what happened to the Egyptians and those who didn’t have the blood of a spotless lamb on the doorframes? Their first-born sons died that night.

Ok, keep that image in your mind. Now, at Passover, the Jewish families would gather together, and they would sing Psalms 113 to 118, which they called the Hallel. And several of them start or end with that same word: Hallelujah.

Now jump ahead to the night before Jesus died. Where is He? At a Passover table with His disciples. He takes the bread and says, “This is my body.” He takes the cup and says, “This is my blood.” And then Matthew tells us, “when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

Which hymn? Most likely the end of the Hallel. Now think about what that means. On His way to the cross, Jesus very likely sang words like these:

¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,

Psalm 116:13 ESV

Are you seeing it? Jesus had just handed them the cup, and He was about to drink the cup of God’s wrath so that we could lift up the cup of salvation. So that judgment would pass over us. And the next day, that’s exactly what He did!

This is why Paul says: “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” Remember the image I asked you to keep? Two kinds of houses on one night, and the blood decided which kind you were in.

That’s the song heaven is singing in Revelation 19! The song from the Passover table! Verse 5 borrows straight from it. Psalm 113 opens, “Praise, O servants of the LORD!”

In verses 6–10, John hears a crowd so loud it sounds like Niagara Falls and a thunderstorm all at once. And it’s a sound proclaiming: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” And then in verse 7: “the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.” Are you seeing it yet? Why they singing? Because God had judged perfect and righteous judgment, And just like that first Passover, God’s people have been passed over because of a Lamb! But not any old lamb, the perfect lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!

And that Lamb, Jesus Christ, died to not only make God’s wrath pass over us, but to make us His bride… Isn’t that amazing? It’s it just remarkable how the entire Bible is telling the same story so perfectly? It’s almost like it has one Divine author over it’s 66 books, written over thousands of years… Someone should really look into that…

Verse 8 shows us what she’s wearing. “it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure… for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” The bride’s linen was granted. Which means it’s a gift.

But wait a minute… The text says it was granted to her, and that she clothed herself in fine linen… So which is it? Did God give her the linen or did the bride (which is the church), adorn herself in it? Oh come on - you know the answer. The answer is: “YES!”

Grace comes first, of course. And by grace through faith what happens? Works. Nobody earns a seat at this wedding table. But nobody shows up to it unchanged either. Paul says Christ “gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her.” Which means that every time Christ has corrected you, every time He’s brought you back to repentance at His Table, That’s Him getting His bride ready for her wedding!

And church, the Lord’s table is a BIG PART of how Christ does that! We gather. We remember. We examine and we repent of our sin, and as we do, we turn from Babylon’s sin system to the righteousness of Christ.

Verse 9: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb… These are the true words of God.” Right before they sang that hymn at the last supper, Jesus said, “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Did you catch that? “With you.” He’s saying, “I won’t drink it again until I can drink with my bride at my wedding!” That’s what this Table is. It’s a foretaste of the great wedding feast which is yet to come!

So let me ask you. Do you want the wedding, or do you just want to avoid hell? Because there’s a difference. A bride isn’t counting down the days because she’s glad to avoid something. She’s counting down because she gets to be with someone. Penelope didn’t unpick that shroud every night for three years just to keep the suitors away. She did it because she was his, and she wanted him home to be with Him. Is that you? When was the last time you longed for Jesus? Not just to be safe from judgment, but to be with Him?

The Table is meant to feed that longing. And savoring it doesn’t mean working up a feeling. Some mornings you’ll feel a lot, and some mornings you won’t. But the truth the bread and cup symbolize is just as true either way. So savor it.

Savoring it means you slow down long enough to remember what it is. When the bread is in your hand, don’t treat it like a mint on the way out of a restaurant. Something that helps clean up your spiritual breath just by devouring it. Because that’s not how it works. It works by reflecting on the body which was broken for you. The blood which was shed for you. And then doing this in remembrance of Christ proclaiming His death until He comes. For when He comes, it will be a glorious, glorious day!

Until the day our King returns, we must:

3. Rally to the Returning King (vv. 11–16)

In verses 11-16, heaven itself opens. And out rides the One the suitors bet would never come home. And his name is “Faithful and True” And this white rider couldn’t be any more different than the white rider of Revelation 6. Because the white rider of Revelation 6, the antichrist, lied to everybody. Babylon promised everybody everything. But this white Rider, Jesus Christ, has never broken His word, and He isn't about to start.

His eyes are like a flame of fire - nothing gets past His perfect justice. And on His head are “many diadems” - which means many crowns. And He has a name nobody knows but Himself. And why is that? John doesn’t tell us. But in the Bible, to know someone’s name is to know who they are. And no matter how much we know about Jesus, there’s more to Him than any of us will ever get to the bottom of.

Verse 13 says He's "clothed in a robe dipped in blood." Who’s blood? Look two verses down. Verse 15 says: “He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” That's Isaiah 63 language, where the Lord comes back from the winepress with His garments stained with His enemies' lifeblood. This isn't the blood of the cross. This is the blood of judgment.

And His name is "The Word of God." The same Word that spoke the world into existence is about to speak judgment over it. And when He does, a sharp sword comes out of His mouth. He doesn't even lift a hand. He just speaks.

Then verse 14: "the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him." Did you notice what they're wearing? The same thing the bride wore in verse 8. But notice who does the fighting. John never describes these armies striking a single blow. And that’s because the victory belongs to our King. Our job isn't to win the war. Our job is to be found with Him when He comes to win. For He is the God Who fights for us!

And on His robe and on His thigh is His name: “King of kings and Lord of lords.” Church, this is the king we are waiting for. The groom who died for us so that we might live with Him as His beloved bride.

Now, some guys hear this, and they sometimes say: “I don’t know to think about me being called ‘the bride’ of Christ.” Tim Keller said guys used to come up to him after sermons and say exactly that. And he’d point them to Galatians, which says “in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” So, as he put it, everybody’s got “a little imagination work” to do.

Now, what does it mean to rally to Christ? It means you quit living like He's never coming back. It means you stop hedging your bets. It means the approval of the people around you stops running your life. It means you stop believing Babylon can offer you what only Jesus can. Which is true love and lasting joy. And then you build your life on that, sort of like how a marriage works. After all, that’s Christ’s imagery of it.

Think about it: If a couple gets married, and one of them says: “Alright, fine. We are married, but I’m not sharing my bank account with you” What is that? Is that true marrital intimacy? No. No it’s not. The same is true if they say, “I’ll share a bed with you, but not my interests.” Tim Keller talked about this, And he compared it to a married man who spent his time, hobbies, interest, fears, hopes, and joys with another woman who wasn’t his wife. And when his wife came to him unhappy about it, he said: “What’s the big deal. We’re married aren’t we?” “I bought you a house. I pay the bills. What’s the problem?”

Well what is the problem? That’s not marriage! See, in marriage, it’s not just about intimacy in one area. Marriage is about intimacy in all areas. And if you hold any part of that back, your’e not being truly faithful to your spouse.

Church, the same is true with Christ. Christ didn’t just die for part of you. He died for all of you. You are His bride. So live like it! Rally to Him, because He’s your spouse and king.

Until the day our King returns, we must:

4. Reckon with the Other Supper (vv. 17–21)

Remember the suitor who said birds seldom mean anything? Well, these ones do. In verses 17–21, an angel stands in the sun and calls every bird in the sky, saying: "Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men… and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great."

Two suppers in one chapter: The marriage supper of the Lamb, and the great supper of God’s judgment. But at this second one, the people aren’t the guests. The birds are the guests. The people are the meal.

And that language comes straight out of Ezekiel 39, where God calls the birds to feast on the armies that came against His people on the mountains of Israel. And did you catch that phrase again? "Both small and great." At the Lamb’s supper, rank doesn’t keep anybody out. At this one, rank doesn’t save anybody either.

John tells us the menu includes the kings and their armies. These are the same kings who lived in luxury with Babylon the great Harlot. And behind both, John tells us, are demonic spirits that lead them to a table they don’t wanna be at when the King returns. And right now, this should be giving you Déjà vu. Because that’s 1 Corinthians 10, writ large.

In verse 19 the beast and the kings of the earth gather their armies "to make war against him who was sitting on the horse." The world lines up against Christ. And what does John tell us about the battle? Nothing. It's over in a sentence. The beast and the false prophet are "thrown alive into the lake of fire." The rest fall by the sword from His mouth, and the birds eat until they're full.

Look, you could really sum the entire Bible up by this theme. A feast of two tables. Think about it. Back in the garden. What did Adam face? A two-tabled test. He could feast on literally every tree from the garden but one. One led to life, and the other led to death.

And the same test Adam faces lies before us today. At one table we have the infinite love and goodness of God, full of abundance and food that never ends. But at the other, we have spiritually-poisoned Hors d'oeuvres

And from Genesis to Revelation, what has humanity done? Paul says we “exchanged the truth about God for a lie.” We’ve exchanges the feast of God for the feast of demons.

But the Bible doesn’t end at the tree that brought death. It ends at “the tree of life,” and a wedding supper. Two tables at the beginning. Two suppers at the end. Show me the table you love, and I’ll show you the supper you’re headed for.

So here’s the question. Antinous had the cup in his hands and “no thought of death.” So how about you? Have you reckoned with the coming judgment of God on all who reject His invitation to feast at His table?

If you haven’t, look at verse 20. Because that’s where rebellion against the King ends. But… that day is not today. Because today the King Who rides out of heaven is still offering refuge. As Psalm 2 says, “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

And if you have. Are you continuing to reckon with it? Are you coming to the table and considering the heavy cost that you didn’t have to pay to receive that invitation?

The cost was Christ’s body broken for you. Christ’s blood shed for you. That’s why you’ll never be the meal. And it’s why we can eat and drink now at His Table, a preview of the feast to come. Every time we take this cup, we’re waiting for Him. And every time we do, He’s waiting for us. Because He said He won’t drink it again until He drinks it with us. So come to His Table, and keep watching for heaven to open, because the One Who’s coming is Faithful and True.

This is the manuscript the sermon was preached from, so the recording may differ in places.