Old Testament Reading
Jeremiah 3:6-18
New Testament Reading
Matthew 26:17-30
“The Marriage Supper of the Lamb”
Revelation 19:7-10
Wayne J. Edwards
God revealed His divine plan for our redemption through the human relationship of marriage.
- He began His plan with the wedding of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
- He will end His plan with the wedding of Christ and His Church in the Millennial Kingdom.
- God used the covenant of marriage to illustrate His “Old Covenant” relationship with the nation of Israel as His chosen people.
- God used the covenant of marriage to illustrate His “New Covenant” with the Church as the Bride of Christ.
1. God’s Pattern for our Redemption Concealed
Revelation 19:7 – “For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”
Throughout Scripture, God used the analogy of a wedding to describe the relationship between Christ and His Church. This analogy is illustrated in the four stages of a Jewish Wedding:
- The Betrothal – this covenant began with an agreement by the couple’s fathers and included a dowry from the groom called the “Bride Price.”
- The Acceptance – after publicly expressing his love for his potential bride, the groom would pour a cup of wine. If she drank it, she had accepted his proposal, and they were legally married. The groom gave her a ring to seal the covenant.
- The Building of the Wedding Chamber – while the groom returned to His father’s house to build a room for him and his bride, the bride would begin to make her wedding garments. Since most bridegrooms came at night, she slept in her wedding garments and she placed a lamp in her window. If she left her home in the day, she also wore a veil to show she had been “bought with a price” and was submitted to him.
- The Wedding – when the groom’s father gave him the word, he and his friends would approach the bride’s house, blow the Shofar (trumpet) and shout: “Come Forth!” The bride would come out, dressed in white linen, be seated on a cart, and carried to the father’s house, where they would gather under the “Huppah” for the marriage ceremony. Then they would enter the bridal chamber to consummate the marriage and continue their honeymoon for seven days, while their family and friends celebrated with a feast. When the seven days were over, they all attended the Marriage Supper.
2. God’s Plan for our Redemption Revealed –
Revelation 19:9 – “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb!”
How the Jewish Wedding compares to God’s plan for our redemption:
- The Betrothal – God the Father chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:3-6). Therefore, God the Father is the “Father of the Groom,” and God the Son is the “Father of the Bride.” They determined the PRICE of our salvation, which was the shed blood of Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
- The Acceptance – When we received Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we became “betrothed” to Him. Our ring was the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Our covenant of marriage was written in His Word. During this betrothal time, we are to keep ourselves pure and spotless by reading His Word, and we should show others we belong to Jesus by veiling the attractions of the flesh. We should also be making our wedding garments through the good works we allow the Holy Spirit to accomplish through us. Each time we take the “cup” of the Lord’s Supper, we re-affirm our vows unto Him.
- The Building of the Wedding Chamber – Jesus told His disciples He was going to prepare a place for those who would receive Him as their Savior. (John 14:1-3) Even though it has been more than 2000 years since He made that promise, it is still valid today. When God the Father sees that our house is ready, He will send Jesus Christ to come for us and take us to be with Him forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) Until that day, we are to keep our minds focused on the things above and live in that glorious anticipation of His imminent return.
- The Wedding (incorporated into the third point)
3. God’s Promise for our Redemption Fulfilled –
Revelation 19:7 – “Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come and His wife hath made herself ready!”
- The “Church Age” began at Pentecost (Acts 2) and will end at the Rapture. (1 Thess. 4:14-18)
- At the Rapture, every believer, whether dead or alive, will be caught up from the earth and taken to heaven.
- Therefore, only the “Church” is the “Bride of Christ” and will be at the Marriage of the Lamb.
- The Old Testament Saints and the Tribulation Saints will have their rewards, but they are not a part of the “Church” – they are “invited guests” at the wedding.
- According to 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, and 2 Corinthians 5:10, every believer will stand before the Lord, and the “veil” will be lifted, exposing the truth of their lives.
- Every believer will come to the wedding dressed in the garments they made during the betrothal period; those “works” that survived the Judgment Seat of Christ.
- Once the Bride has been made clean and the marriage ceremony is held at the Father’s House, the Church will be united with Christ forever. (1 Thess. 4:17)
- At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus will return to the earth, WITH HIS BRIDE, to end the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:14) and to establish His Kingdom upon the earth, and the Church will reign with Him for 1000 years.
- At the beginning of the Millennial Reign, all the saints from every age will be invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. (Matthew 8:11, Luke 13:28-29, Luke 22:16-18, Luke 22:29-30)
- In Matthew 26, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper to unite together those who would believe in Him. In essence, they become the “body of Christ”!
- In Luke 22, Jesus said He would not “drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God shall come!”
- That will be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
HAVE YOU RECEIVED
YOUR INVITATION?
