The Marriage Supper

"Then he said to me, 'Write, "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" ' And he said to me, 'These are true words of God.' Then I fell at his feet to worship him But he said to me, 'Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.' " (Revelation 19:9,10 - New American Standard)

The celebration of the Marriage Supper will occur after the Battle of Armageddon when the New Jerusalem descends from heaven. To this feast will be invited all the saved who are in glorified bodies whose home will be the New Jerusalem and all the saved in fleshly bodies who enter into the Millennial Reign of Christ.

In New Testament times, marriage suppers were the most joyous and festive events which the average person ever attended. This Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be the most joyous and festive event of all time.

At this point, John is so overwhelmed with emotion that he falls down before the angel who is showing him these things and begins to worship him. The angel immediately stops him. The angels of God do not desire our worship.

This great and mighty angel is but a fellow servant of God with us. He is our brother in the service of the Lord. We worship God. He worships God.

We should not give worship to any created being. No angel, no saint, no creature is to be given the praise, glory, worship and adoration that belongs to God. With the conclusion of heaven's Hallelujah chorus, the army of heaven is ready to march. The Battle of Armageddon is about to begin.

The Bride is Ready

"The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: 'Amen, Hallelujah!' Then a voice came from the throne, saying: 'Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!' 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 the saints.)" (Revelation 19:4-8 - New International Version)

As the worship continues, the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures join the multitude praising God. A voice from God's throne calls upon all God's servants to praise him.

The voice that John hears in verse six was loud, melodious and powerful. He does not tell us who it was that spoke. This voice announces that God Almighty reigns.

God has always reigned in heaven. However, this passage should be seen in relation to ruling the earth. God's reign on earth is about to begin. The god of this world, Satan, is about to be dethroned.

Who is the bride of Christ in Revelation? Most commentators state that it is the Church. Ephesians tells us that the relationship of Christ and the Church is like the relationship between husband and wife. This is figurative.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Revelation is also figurative. There is not going to be an actual marriage ceremony. Jesus is not going to actually marry some person. In Revelation, John uses the term bride four times. He speaks of marriage twice. He writes of a wife twice. Of these eight times, seven refer to Christ and his bride in two passages. The first passage is the one we are studying. This passage does not tell us who the bride is.

The other passage is Revelation chapter twenty-one verses nine and ten. This passages does tell us who the bride is.

“One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, 'Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.' And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.” (New International Version)

The bride of Christ in Revelation is a city: the New Jerusalem. When we get to chapter twenty-one in our study, we will discuss the symbolism of this if more detail. For our understanding of the passage before us, we only need to understand that the bride is this city.

At the time to which our passage relates, the city will be ready. It will be ready to descend from heaven to the earth.

The beauty of the New Jerusalem is described in more detail latter. Her beauty will be based upon both the work of God and the work of the saints. She will be decorated with the glory of God and the godly deeds of the redeemed. This is figurative.