revelation: things are not as they seem
November 25/26 Services
Sermon Title: The Last Battle
Preacher: The Rev. Alex Shuttleworth
The collect for the day
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The lesson: revelation 19: 11-21
The Rider on a White Horse
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
THe Psalter: psalm 110
1 The Lord said unto my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
2 The Lord shall send the scepter of your power out of Zion:
“Rule in the midst of your enemies.”
3 In the day of your power the people, in holy raiment,
shall offer you freewill offerings;
from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth
belongs to you.
4 The Lord has sworn and will not recant:
“You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord at your right hand
shall smite kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge the nations;
he shall fill the lands with dead bodies, and strike down
heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink from the brook by the way;
therefore shall he lift up his head.
BCP 2019
The gospel: John 12: 12-15
The Triumphal Entry
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”