Taylor Swift’s latest album just dropped as I wrote this. I haven’t heard it, and probably never will, but her voice and message have already reached billions. Women can profoundly influence culture. Revelation 19 contrasts the fates of two famous women. Proverbs 9 predicts that fate. In Proverbs, the women are Folly and Wisdom; in Revelation, they are Babylon and the Bride of Christ.
Proverbs 9:13-18
Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
Proverbs 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”
Revelation 19:1-3; 6-9
After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Death for one woman’s way. Life eternal, through a beautiful connection to Christ, for the other. The whole scope of life and God’s salvation points toward and awaits the connection and redemption of God’s people at the wedding of the Lamb. Wedding imagery conveys great hope, significance, and security for all who wait and walk with Jesus.
John Riley
Junior High Pastor