REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 19.8b

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

 

Chapter Nineteen

The Marriage of the Lamb

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

 

 

In The Beginning

The sanctity of marriage was established and blessed by God (cf. Genesis 1:28). After creating Eve as a helpmeet from the rib of Adam, God presented the bride to him, unified, and consecrated the marriage both physically and spiritually, a man…shall cleave (cling, keep, stay with) unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh (cf. Genesis 2:24). Exclusively, Adam’s fidelity was to his mate. So, the marriage union was initiated to be monogamous and permanent.

Paul adds some spiritual biblical insights:

1 Corinthians 11:8-9, 11 - For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man…Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

 

Collectively, the Church is one and joined to Christ as Paul describes:

Romans 12:5 - So we (New Testament believers-The Church), being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

 

Ephesians 5:31-32 - For this cause (reason) shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.

 

Old Testament Precedent

When God formed a nation unto Himself, the original standard for marriage was already constituted. Abraham, however, deviated and took it upon himself to engage in polygamous relationships. His descendants followed suit, thus allowing polygamy and divorce to become common practices. Hence, laws were designed and enacted to accommodate and dissuade even further regression.

 

Commentary

Although there are numerous violations throughout the Old Testament [e.g., marriage between relatives, etc. (cf. Leviticus 18; Deuteronomy 24:1-5)], the above details are presented briefly to the reader simply to show the degeneration of God’s original intent.

 

The simplest wedding format was when Abraham’s trusted servant Eliezer (a type of the Holy Spirit), went to his land to fetch a wife for Isaac. Through God's divine providence, Rebecca was chosen, brought back, and Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her (read Genesis 24).

 

 

Historic Jewish Wedding Customs

Even though the word wedding does not appear in the KJV Old Testament, the single greatest social event and celebration in the ancient biblical world was the wedding. It is interesting to observe how the Marriage and Marriage Supper of the Lamb aligns with Jewish customs. The Jewish wedding tradition in its entirety consisted of three main elements:

1. The Betrothal Stage

1. The marriage contract

2. The mohar (dowry)

3. The expectations

4.  The divorce provision

5. The Old Testament example

6. The New Testament example

7. The foreshadowing of Christ

2. The Presentation Stage

3. The Ceremonial Stage

 

1. The Betrothal Stage

To be betrothed in the contemporary vernacular is known as the engagement or espousal period. 

1. The official contract (ketubbah) of marriage   

Long before children reached the age of marriageability, a legally binding contract was arranged between both sets of parents. Marital age was generally twelve to fourteen. Even after a year of preparation, it was primarily considered a beneficial alliance between two families.

Upon ratification of the agreement, the couples were labeled officially married during the betrothal period, however, each lived in their respective homes.

 

2. The mohar (dowry or bride money)

A price or mohar was agreed upon by both families payable to the girl’s father as compensation for the loss of his daughter. Payments varied according to the family’s wealth (e.g., gold, silver, coinage, animals, land, service, slaves). Recall, Jacob laboriously served Laban initially seven years for Rachael’s hand in marriage (cf. Gen 29:30).

 

3. The expectations of the husband and wife

a. The length of the betrothal period commonly lasted one year.

b. During the year, the young girl was obligated to prove her purity and faithfulness.

c. Usually older, the male’s duty, on the other hand, was to prepare a suitable home for the bride-to-be.

 

4. The divorce provision

According to Mosaic Law, if there was any impropriety such as adultery (cf. Deuteronomy 5:18), strict penalties were enforced (cf. Marriage violations – Leviticus 30:10; Deuteronomy 22:13-30). On the question of divorce, Jesus responded to the Pharisees in Judea, “Because of the hardness of your hearts, “Moses suffered (permitted) you to put away (divorce) your wives: but from the beginning, it was not so (cf. Matthew 19:8).”

 

5. The Old Testament example

Jehovah God is married to Israel (cf. Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 3:14). Even though Israel committed spiritual adultery with pagan deities, God did not divorce Israel. In the future, however, not willing that she should perish, God’s grace eventually restores Israel through repentance (see Jeremiah 3:1-4; 31:31-34).

 

5. The New Testament example

Joseph was betrothed to Mary when he discovered she was with child (cf. Matthew 1:18; Luke 2:5). Yet rather than divorce or stone her, Joseph chose not terminate his betrothal to Mary – He put her away privily (cf. Matthew 1:19).

 

7. The foreshadowing of Christ

The twain becoming one is an archetype of Christ and the Church. When redeemed, the believer is joined to Christ and regarded as a mystical representation of marriage. Hence, signed in eternity past, God the Father, in an eternal covenant, promised Christ His Son a redeemed people and legered their names in the Book of Life.

Hebrews 13:20 - Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting (eternal) covenant.

Presently, Christ is preparing an abode of many mansions for His bride (cf. John 14:2-3) in His Father’s house.

 

2. The Presentation Stage

During this period, after one year before the marriage ceremony is initiated, typically it is a time of festivities. Depending upon the economic status of the families, the wedding celebration could last as long as a week or more.

 

The Readiness of the Bride

Significantly, the bride has prior knowledge of his arrival so she and her maidens would be ready to leave. Technically, the bride would become part of the husband’s family.

 

Rapture Ready

Before Christ, the Bridegroom, receives His bride, the Church, at the Rapture, she will be in a state of preparedness ready to receive Him. What a wonderful and happy day it will be when the Church, along with deceased believers, are finally caught up with Christ the Bridegroom to Heaven (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

 

The Acknowledgment of the Bridegroom

The bridegroom becomes the center of attention, not the bride. Removal of the bride from her parent’s home was essential to the ceremony. Accompanied by his groomsmen (cf. Judges 14:11; Matthew 9:15) and along with musicians and/or singers, the elaborately clothed bridegroom would normally travel to the house of the bride towards sunset on a Wednesday evening. Incidentally, joyous cries are heard ringing out, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh!” (cf. Matthew 25:6).

At this time, the bridegroom would present the bride with a personal wedding gift.

 

The Torchlight Bridal Procession

After the bridegroom “took the wife,” all parties involved (both friends of the bride and bridegroom respectively) would engage in a torchlight promenade past the onlookers of the town (cf. Song of Solomon 3:11) back to the bridegroom’s house where a wedding banquet would take place, the premise of the Parable of the Ten Virgins (cf. Matthew 25:1-13).

 

 

3. The Ceremonial Stage

(Verse 9b)

Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

 

The Marriage Feast

Once at the father’s house, according to customs, the festivities would commence as the groom presented his lovely bride in all her splendor. Celebration time: A grand banquet was served and the festivities were laced with excessive joy and merrymaking. By eventide, the married couple was ushered into the nuptial chamber by their respective parents.

 

The Veiled Bride

A bride would be elegantly adorned and wearing a veil* which is not removed until after the completion of the union in the wedding tent (cf. 2 Samuel 16:22; Psalm19:4-5; Song of Solomon 1:16-17). This practice also explains why Laban was able to substitute Leah for Rachel (cf. Genesis 29:21-25).

*A veil in the Song of Solomon is known as a (nuptial) crown [garland or wreath (cf. Song of Solomon 3:11)].

 

The Wedding Tent

While the bride’s attendants lie in wait, there was a wedding tent* which the couple entered during the evening to consummate the union. The marriage was confirmed after the groom presented a bloodied “virginity cloth” the next morning to witnesses. It was later returned to the bride for a keepsake.

*Today's ceremonial (Huppah, Chuppah) canopy represents the wedding tent or bridal chamber (cf. Joel 2:16).

 

United in Marriage

On the morrow, after the marriage was consummated, wedding festivities continued for seven (even up to fourteen) days. Entertainment, music, singing, dancing, asking of riddles (cf. Judges 14:10ff.), and eating large quantities of food were peppered throughout the festival.

 

The wine was the main beverage for the festivities [read the Wedding at Cana (cf. John 2:1-11)]. Additionally, recall the words of Christ during The Last Supper:

Matthew 26:29 - But I say unto you, I (Jesus) will not drink henceforth (from now on) of this fruit of the vine (wine), until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom (the Millennium).

 

The Wedding Guests

Certainly, the bride is not a guest, she is the Church and sends out invitations to several groups. Guests include:

a.  Old Testament saints

b.  Tribulation saints

c.   Messianic Jews

d.   Those who inherit Christ’s Kingdom

    The aforementioned comprises Jews and Gentiles – God’s people.

 

Commentary

Currently, the bride (the Church) is already the wife of the Lamb. She is pictured as a chaste virgin waiting for the coming of the Bridegroom (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:2). The Bridegroom will take His bride to His Father’s house and present her in Heaven. Following will be the wedding reception on earth where He has prepared a house for her.

 

Respectively contrasted to the Lord’s Supper (cf. Matthew 26:26-29; John 6:51-56), the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is a glorious fulfillment celebration of all who placed their faith in Jesus Christ per se. Unlike the seven to fourteen-day festival, the Lamb’s celebration will continue throughout the Millennium. Recall, a day is like 1,000 years (cf. Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8) in the eyes of the Lord.

 

The final consummation of the marriage is in the new Heaven and earth when the bride is expanded to include the redeemed of all ages as the new Jerusalem [the City of God (cf. Psalm 46:4)] becomes the eternal bridal city:

Revelation 21:1-2 - And I (John) saw a new Heaven and a new earth: for the first Heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the Holy City, [the] New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride (the Church) adorned for her Husband (Jesus Christ).

 

Oh, what a happy day it will be when the Church, along with deceased believers, is finally caught up with Christ, the Bridegroom, to Heaven. Next, we anxiously await the Blessed Hope - The hope laid up for us in Heaven (cf. Colossians 1:5), i.e., the glorious appearing of Christ at His Second Coming.  

 

 

(Verse 10)

 

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

 

Foolishly, John overwhelmed and overly awed by the communication he received from Almighty God, prostrates himself in homage to the angelic messenger. However, his act of worship is harshly rebuked by the angel enforcing Scripture (cf. Colossians 2:18; Matthew 4:10) essentially saying,

“Do not venerate me, for I am a created being, fellow servant (bondservant, slave), and brother like you that has the testimony of Jesus Christ. For worship belongs only to Almighty God alone.”

As stated previously:

Hebrews 1:14 - Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them (the redeemed) who shall be [joint] heirs of salvation?

 

I…have the testimony of Jesus…for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The design of prophecy is to bear testimony to Jesus Christ. So, the angel is properly communicating and enforcing revealed truth through the Holy Spirit.

 

The spirit of prophecy

At its very core, Bible prophecy throughout both the Old and New Testament is designed to reveal the beauty and love of the Lord Jesus. Hence, Jesus is the spirit of prophecy:

1. It bears witness to His Resurrection

2. It bears  witness to His Return

3. It bears witness to His Radiance

Salvation through Jesus Christ is the crimson thread woven throughout Scripture, i.e., the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

During the following study, the glorious return of Jesus Christ is discussed.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   What is involved in the betrothal stage?

2.   How is marriage defined in Genesis?

3.   How do today’s weddings square with ancient customs?

4.   Why is the Betrothal Stage important in the Bible?

5.   Describe the Presentation Stage of marriage.

6.   Identify parts of the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.

7.   Why was John rebuked by the angel?

 

 

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