REVELATION
SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 19.7
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
Timeline
1. The
Rapture of the Church
Redeemed
and washed in the blood of the Lamb, believers (including Old Testament saints)
are caught up in the air with Jesus Christ prior to Tribulation between
Revelation Chapters 3 and 4. References cited:
a. 1
Thessalonians 3:134
b. 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18
c. 1
Corinthians 15:52
d. John
14:1-3
e. See
also Revelation Study 4.1.B Introduction
Note:
Throughout the seven-year Tribulation Period on earth, the Church remains in
heaven and returns with Christ at His Second Advent.
2. The
Bema (Judgment) Seat of Christ
At
this juncture, the Church members or body of believers (the Bride) in their
glorified bodies, prepares for the wedding. Her works or deeds will be
investigated, whether good or bad
(cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10). Some deeds will be burned (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
while others receive reward crowns (see Revelation Study 4.8 and Verse 10).
The
judgment precedent for saints has already been set:
Romans 14:10-12 - But why dost thou judge
thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought (belittle, ignore, despise) thy
brother? for we shall all stand before the (Bema) judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of
himself to God.
3. The
Marriage of the Lamb of God (Revelation 19:7-8)
Collectively
believers (the elect-Church), by God’s grace saved by the blood of the Lamb, are
called “The Heavenly Bride.” Having residence in heaven since the Rapture, the
Bride is preparing herself for the wedding ceremony. She then gives herself exclusively to Jesus Christ
as a righteous chaste virgin without spot or blemish and will be in perfect
union with Him.
4. The
Marriage Feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9)
This
reception celebration takes place after the Second Coming at the commencement
of and throughout the Millennium.
5. The
Glorious Return of Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:11-15)
The
Second Coming of Jesus Christ: Christ returns with His heavenly hosts of angels
and His newly-wed bride. She is thence presented on earth.
6. The
Great Battle of the Armies (Revelation 19:19)
Christ,
His Church, and His angelic entourage engage in a short spiritual conflict against
Antichrist and his armies.
7. The
Honeymoon of the Lamb (Revelation 20:4a,c)
Jesus
will reign on earth upon David’s throne (cf. Isaiah 9:11) along with His bride when
the Millennium is launched. In His promised peaceful Kingdom, He will rule as
King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
1. The Hallelujah
Chorus of Heaven’s Inhabitants (vv. 1-10)
2. The Wedding of the
Bride and Bridegroom
(Verse 7)
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him:
for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
After
the heavenly Hallelujah Chorus shouts, “The Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” the
multitudes of Verse 6 continue exclaiming three lauds:
1. Let
us be glad
The word for glad
(Greek; chairÅ) is defined as full
of cheer
2. Let
us rejoice
Rejoice
has a slight variation in meaning i.e., be joyful, exult, or namely, to jump
with exceeding joy
3. Let
us give Him honour (We will offer Him the glory)
Attributing
dignity, glory, praise, worship, and honour elucidates a condition of preeminence,
excellence, majesty, and blessedness belonging only to Him
The
Wedding of the Lamb of God
For the marriage of the Lamb is come (Älthen)
Alleluia to the Lamb! The ceremony the Church so anxiously
has been awaiting arrives. Observe: The announcement is not of the bride but of
the Bridegroom – The Lamb – It is His joy. According to God’s original intent, the
marriage relationship speaks of a union between one man and one woman (Adam and
Eve) becoming intimately one flesh (cf. Genesis 2:24b); foreshadowing Christ
and His collective bride, the Church (cf. John 6:56; 1 John 3:2), eternally
joined together.
And His wife has made herself ready
[She hath already prepared herself]
Meanwhile,
the bride has been cleansed and rewarded according to her works at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Paul
presents a clear understanding of how pre-raptured believers have prepared
themselves for this event:
Colossians 1:9b-12 - …to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of
His will in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord
unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according
to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (qualified) to be partakers of
the inheritance of the saints in light.
(Verse 8)
And to her was granted that she should be
arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness
of saints.
The Array of the Bride
Clothed in fine linen for the wedding, the bride meets three
criteria:
1. The linen (a delicate soft cloth) must be fine
Fine –explains the righteousness[es] (plural) of the saints
[Read Ephesians 2:5-27]
2. The linen must be clean
Clean - clear and pure, chaste
1. Physically; refined or purified by fire
2. Levitically; not ceremonially unforbidden
3. Ethically; guiltless, blameless, desirable, innocent
3. The linen must be white
White - brilliant, shining,
clear, glistening, and radiant
The fine linen then
is a supernatural inward and outward clothing. As explained by Paul:
Philippians 3:20-21 - For our conversation
(citizenship) is in Heaven; from whence also we look
(eagerly wait) for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change (transfigure,
transform) our vile body, that it may be
fashioned (conformed, changed, come into being) like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to
subdue (subject, submit) all things unto
Himself.
Before the fall of Genesis 3, Adam and Eve were created and
fashioned after the likeness of His image. When Jesus was on the Mount of
Transfiguration, He is seen shining like the sun. So when sin entered into the
world, man’s lights went out – In other words, they became naked.
Throughout the judgment process during Tribulation, it will
be granted unto the redeemed to be arrayed in a glistening white shining-like-the-sun image of righteousness as the former. Therefore, by being
clothed in new glorious bodies, they will be able to be united with Christ.
Interestingly, fine linen is the raiment worn by angels as earlier
witnessed by John:
Revelation 15:6 - And the seven angels came out of the Temple, having the seven plagues, [were] clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
Fine Linen of Old Testament Saints
1. As worn by Joseph:
Genesis 41:42 - And Pharaoh took off his
ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him
(Joseph) in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck.
2. As worn by David:
1 Chronicles 15:27 - And David was
clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah
the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.
3. As worn by Mordecai:
Esther 8:15 - And Mordecai went out from
the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was
glad.
Also, recollect the promise of John for New Testament
believers:
1 John 3:2 - Beloved, now are
we the sons of God, and
it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
So, the glorious Church appears ready, holy, without spot or
blemish, and righteously betrothed to Christ the Bridegroom. The nuptials are
executed by God, and the wedding festivities follow thereafter.
3. The Marriage
Supper of the Lamb
(Verse 9)
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper
of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Once again John hears from an angel who has been talking to
him all along (cf. Revelation 14:13; 17:1). By way of a command, John is told to
write down or describe the fourth “beatitude” of Revelation (see Revelation
Study 1.1). He writes, “All who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb
will receive a special blessing.”
Blessed (makarios) means happy,
fortunate, joyful, satisfied, or fulfilled. The marriage supper of the Lamb (not
of the bride) is the grandiose wedding reception that will take place upon the
earth at the commencement of the Kingdom Age.
They which are called unto the marriage supper (wedding-feast,
wedding-ceremony) of the Lamb
While the bride consists of all believers from Pentecost
until the Rapture, the personally called recipients of the blessing are the invited
wedding guests:
1. All Jew and Gentile saints from Abraham to Pentecost
2. All martyred saints during the Tribulation Period
3. All surviving saints of the Tribulation Period
Of such imagery, it is a joyful time of Christ’s displayed
glory. John the Baptist joyfully announced:
John 3:29 - He that hath the
bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth
him, rejoiceth greatly because of
the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled (cf. Song of Solomon 5:1).
So too, the wedding guests will be rejoicing.
The Attendees
1. The Overseer God, officiating the entire wedding
2. The Bridegroom, Jesus Christ
3. The Holy Spirit signifies the marriage covenant
4. The Church, the Bride of Christ
5. The Wedding guests
6. The Angelic Heavenly beings
7. The entire creation
And he
(the angel) saith unto me (John), These are the
true (truthful, genuine) sayings
(words) of God
Additionally, John is told the words he has just heard are
not only reliable but also a witness confirmation of the glorious events
ahead. This is reiterated so everyone hearing is reassured of the blessed hope
of His Second Coming, the end of the Age, and His Millennial rule and reign.
Since the fall of man, the trend is not been to believe in God’s
promises. However, the Holy Spirit signifies through God’s Word His promise is
certain and absolutely true.
During the subsequent study, the components of the Marriage
and Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be compared to earthly celebrations in
biblical history.
QUESTIONS:
1. How does someone become a recipient of the Rapture?
2. How are believers judged at the Bema
Seat Judgment?
3. What is the role of the Bridegroom?
4. How does the bride prepare herself for the Bridegroom?
5. Give some details about the wedding ceremony.
6. List three groups of wedding guests.
7. What makes this wedding so uniquely important?
If this study was a blessing to you, make it a blessing
to others.
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