(03/01/20) Jeremiah Cua
Those Who Sit Down in the Heavenly Kingdom – “Blessed are Those Who are Invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”

Scriptures: Matthew 8:11, Revelation 19:9, Hebrews 11:4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20-22, 24, 31-32

1. Those who sit down (dine) in the heavenly kingdom – those who are invited to the marriage supper

• Grandfather to grandson, three generations, sit down (dine) together in the heavenly kingdom
  Matthew 8:11 (NKJV) “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”
• Grandfather to grandson, four generations – 5 people (because of faith) sit down (dine) together.
  “By faith Abraham, By faith Sarah, By faith Isaac, By faith Jacob, By faith Joseph” (Hebrews 11:8, 11, 20, 21, 22)
• The 16 nominated patriarchs who are with faith
  • Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel. (Hebrews 11:4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 17, 20, 21, 22, 24, 31, 32)
  • “For he (Abraham) waited for the city which has foundations (Hebrews 11:10); “they (from Abel to Jacob, a total of 7 people) desire a better, that is, a heavenly country, a city (Hebrews 11:16); that they (the patriarchs who overcame) might obtain a better resurrection. (Hebrews 11:35)
• “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9)
  • God has provided something better for us (the saints throughout the ages). (Hebrews 11:39, 40a)
  • The past saints are waiting for us to receive the promise. (Hebrews 11:40b) Are you and I, and our family members ready? Don’t let our failure become our regrets, and the worst thing is to disappoint our Lord.

2. The list of those who failed

• Can Moses take Jonathan the priest from the tribe of Dan (which is unlawful to the priesthood system) to the marriage supper? (Hebrews 11:24, Judges 18:30)
• Can Samuel bring his two sons whom he made them judges to the marriage supper? The people accused Samuel’s two sons, but God was silent. (1 Samuel 8:1-5, Hebrews 11:32)
• Can King David take his beloved son Solomon to the marriage supper?
  • King Solomon is not listed among the faithful

3. Judge Jephthah may be able to bring his one and only virgin daughter to the marriage supper!

• Jephthah accepted the offered from the elder to be the head of the Israel to fight against the sons of Ammon. (Judges 11:4-11) And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. (Judges 11:29)
• Jephthah made a vow to the Lord if he returns in peace form fighting the enemy, “then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, it shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”- living sacrifice (Judges 11:30, 31 Original: see Romans 12:1)
• Jephthah fulfilled his vow – to make her daughter remain to be a virgin for life.
  • Jephthah’s daughter went with her companions and wept on the mountain for her virginity. (Judges 11:37-40)
• Judge Jephthah kept her virgin daughter company. He subdued the Ammonites in the following six years. And he dealt with the rebels (the Ephraimites) among the Israelites. (Judges 12:1-6) Jephthah was faithful to his Judgeship for six years and he died. (Judges 12:7) (Jephthah served the shortest term among the twelve judges); Jephthah may be able to sit down with her daughter at the marriage supper.
  • Jephthah’s daughter remained to be virgin, she sacrificed herself to God!
  • Thus, it became a custom in Israel, that the daughters of Israel went yearly to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah four days in the year.

4. The idea about celibacy changes

• In the old time, women wanted to get married and bear children for the Lord to use. Just likes Hannah who gave birth to Samuel, and Mary became the mother of our Lord.
• In the present time, Paul moved by the Spirit points out being single has the advantage of undistracted devotion to the Lord and be happier. (See 1 Corinthians 7:25-40)

5. Longing to sit down in the marriage supper with our loved ones
Let the Lord who suffered for us receive comfort; those who love us be happy!

Speaker: Jeremiah Cua; Interpretor: Caleb Kwok