King Xerxes “held a feast in the third year of his reign for all his officials and staff, the army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials from the provinces. He displayed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness for a total of 180 days” (Esther 1:1–4).
Imagine it. For six months, “180 days”, Xerxes hosted the party to end all parties. It was a record-breaking blowout! A never-before-seen extravaganza. All were invited and everybody that was anybody was present. Day after day, week after week, and month after month, the king displayed the “glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.”
The banquet hall was extravagantly decorated. “White and blue linen hangings were fastened with fine white and purple linen cords to silver rods on marble columns. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of red feldspar, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones” (Esther 1:6).
“Drinks were served in an array of gold goblets, each with a different design. Royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty. The drinking was according to royal decree: ‘There are no restrictions.’ The king had ordered every wine steward in his household to serve whatever each person wanted” (Esther 1:7–8). Loudly, the king decreed, “Enjoy! Drink all you want.” He commanded the waiters and waitresses to “keep pouring. Keep serving! Don’t stop!”
Though I can’t fully imagine it, I’ve been given an invitation to a banquet that will make Xerxes’s little whing-ding appear under-whelming. Yes, I’ve been invited to the King’s banquet.
John describes it. “I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns! Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure” (Revelation 19:6–8).
Jesus, the living King of Persia, the only King of all kings from all the empires and all the ages, will host this grand affair. While serving His beloved guests, He, King Jesus, will be the center of attention. To Him alone, we’ll sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” (Revelation 19:1, 3, 4, 6). “Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God” (Revelation 19:2). “Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns!” (Revelation 19:6). With perfect pitch, every voice will blend in flawless harmony.
As the King of Heaven “displays the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness,” it surely won’t be the Persian rugs that draw our attention. Maybe it will be His hands that enrapture us. Those hands that fashioned the universe, those hands that still bear the scars inflicted at an ancient Roman cross, those hands that will embrace each guest, those hands that will brush the tears from our eyes (Revelation 21:4).
After one-hundred-eighty millennia of unceasing revelry, inexhaustible joy, and boundless worship, we’ll just be gettin’ warmed up!
Did you get an invitation?
