The Marriage and Supper of the Lamb

Introduction: Do you like weddings? How many of you liked your wedding? (Don’t raise your hands). How many of you enjoy seeing what a bride wears on her wedding day? All eyes are on the bride when she walks into the room – especially the eyes of the groom. Most brides look gorgeous on their wedding day.

As a pastor, I have performed numerous weddings, and I have also attended my share of weddings. I recall sometime back in 1987-88, I did a wedding in which the bridesmaid and the bride’s mother were an hour late. Boy oh, boy did I have to do some quick thinking to encourage the guest to stick around. They did, and we had a beautiful wedding.

As we come to Revelation 19, we discover that there are a lot of events happening in the text. Allow me to point them out for you. Follow along in your Bible. We discover the following:

1. The Fall of Babylon –Revelation 19:1-6

2. The Marriage of the Lamb – Revelation 19:7-8

3. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb – Revelation 19:9

4. The Second Coming of Christ – Revelation 19:11-16

5. The Beast and his armies defeated – Revelation 19:17-21

In this message today we are only going to be considering the Marriage of the Lamb and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb – Revelation 19:7-9.

Here on our communion table, I have placed a picture of a supper table decorated for a meal. The table goes on out into infinity. This picture is a concept of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. It’s the celebration that following the Marriage of the Lamb. The Marriage is first (19:7), followed by a supper (19:9).

Here is the good news – someday all those who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will be seated at this glorious banquet. How exciting is that!

Let’s dive into our text and see what we can learn about the Marriage of the Lamb and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

I.The Wedding Day Arrives – 19:7

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

There is a call to all in heaven to be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory for this wonderful event has arrived. Most grooms and brides know how many days, hours, minutes, and maybe seconds until they stand before witnesses and exchange their wedding vows.

A Marriage is to be a glorious event, and THIS Marriage celebration, here in our text is the greatest of them all.

It is here that Christ and His Church are formally united. That mystery that we read about in Ephesians five is fully recognized here in this section of scripture. The Lamb (Jesus Christ) has come for His wife (the church).

I have read that middle east weddings normally have three parts to them. They are:

1. The betrothal (in our language it is the engagement period).

This is where the parents pick out a marriage partner for their son. The parents draw up a contract with the other parents. A dowry would be given to the bride’s parents.

We really see this picture in the account of Mary and Joseph’s betrothal.

2. The marriage.

About a year later, the bridegroom, accompanied by his male friends, went to the house of the bride at midnight, creating a torchlight parade through the streets. The bride would know in advance this was going to take place, and so she would be ready with her maidens, and they would all join the parade and end up at the bridegroom’s home.

I have read that this custom is the basis of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1–13.

3. The marriage supper.

There is the event that consummates the event, and this is followed by a wedding supper or celebration. Both the groom and the bride usually invite many people to this wedding event. This wedding feast can last from one day to several weeks depending on the wealth of the individuals. (See the wedding at Cana in John 2:1–2).

By the way, as I thought of the way marriage was handled in the middle east during biblical days, I couldn’t help but think of the way it lines up with our relationship with Jesus Christ. Follow along:

• Our Salvation = Our Marriage Contract.

• The Rapture = Christ taking us to His home.

• The Wedding Supper = The Consummation of the Marriage.

We read here in this verse that the marriage of the Lamb has come, and that the bride has made herself ready. So, we see in these verses that both:

• Jesus is ready.

• The bride is ready.

Dr. Adrian Rogers writes, “Scripture says the Lamb’s wife has made herself ready. How will you be ready?

· Redemption. At salvation, you receive the inner nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. You become a partaker of the divine nature.

· Rapture. At the rapture we will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, made like the Lord Jesus Christ. Our sinful proclivities, our flesh, will be left behind.

· Reward. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, just before the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, we receive rewards according to the deeds we’ve done. Our white linen garments represent the righteous acts of the saints.

Redemption, rapture, and reward will make the bride beautiful.” (LWF, Adrian Rogers).

II. The bride gets herself beautiful – 19:8

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

The bride (the church) was granted the privilege of wearing fine linen, clean and bright. We see this again when we read the description of the saints that following Christ when He returns. Look over at Revelation 19:14,

And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

One of the questions that people often asked when they mention that they have attended a wedding is, “What did the bride wear?” Most brides wear a white wedding dress. What does a white dress symbolize? It has always stood for purity. A bride was to enter her marriage unstained by the world. She was to be a virgin. Untouched and holy.

As we come to this verse, we discover what the church; the bride of Christ will be wearing. The fine linen, clean and bright is a picture of the righteous acts (deeds) of the saints. God’s church is to be upright and good.

The Bible teaches that the people of God live differently! Our behavior and actions matter. We are called to live upright and holy lives. Christians are NOT to assimilate into the world. No, we are in this world, but we are not to be a part of this world. The hymn writer put it this way,

Living for Jesus, a life that is true, Striving to please Him in all that I do; Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free, This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain: O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee, For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me; I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne; My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Now, please understand that we are NOTsaved by good works, BUT we are saved unto good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). As a matter of fact, we were specifically designed to live our lives in such a way that they make an eternal impact on others around us. Our lives are supposed to touch the lives of others. People should desire what we possess.

At the Judgment Seat of Christ, every Christian will have their deeds judged in righteous judgment (II Corinthians 5). Christ will look at the motive of the heart. Why did we do the things we did?

In this verse, we see the church dressed in righteous acts. You see the church OUGHT to make a difference NOW for the sake of eternity! What difference are we making?

I ask you – How beautiful is your wedding garment? Brides take great care of their wedding garment. Will we?

III. The Guests are seated at the table – 19:9

Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

Here we are looking at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

The angel told John to “Write”. Here we have the inspiration of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). John’s recorded what God wanted everyone to know.

Right at this moment you and I are reading what John wrote. We are reading what God wanted us to Understand about the End Times. And get this, people have been reading what John wrote now for thousands of years. These words have been preached around the globe. And now today they are being proclaimed in your hearing.

We read,

‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’”

The word “Blessed” can be translated “happy”. So, happy are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Isn’t there something special about being an invited guest to a wedding supper? Your presence was requested! This is awesome.

Well, who are those “called” to the marriage supper of the Lamb? Well, some Bible teachers believe that these guests are Old Testament saints, and Tribulation saints. Do bear in mind that at a wedding there are:

· The Groom – here it is Christ.

· The bride – in this case it is the Church.

· The Guests – O.T. saints and Tribulation saints (?).

As I read this verse it appears to me that the blessing is for all those who are seated at the table with Jesus Christ. In other words, if you (a member of the church) are seated at the marriage supper of the Lamb you ought to count it as heaven’s greatest blessings!

Before I bring this message to a close, I do want to point out the words,

“These are the true sayings of God.”

What do these words mean? Let me share how it is translated in other versions of Scripture:

· The American Standard Version reads – “These are the true words of God.”

· The New Living Translation reads – “These are the true words that come from God.”

· The Christians Standard Bible reads – “These words of God are true.”

What is John trying to get across to us? He is telling us that God will do what God has said He will do. His WORDS are 100% true and trustworthy.

· There will be the Marriage of the Lamb – it will happen just as God said so in His Word.

· There will be a bride that makes herself beautiful (His Church). This will happen just as God has said so in His Word.

· There will be invited guest to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb just as God has said in His Word.

The Bottom line: There will be a Marriage, a Bride, and a Marriage Supper. You and I can count on it.

Conclusion: When I was reading Dr. Tony Evans Bible Commentary on Revelation 19:7-9 I discovered that he believes that the marriage supper of the Lamb will last through the millennium period – that’s 1,000-year reign of Christ (Revelation 20). Can you image having a wedding feast that last 1,000 years? Wow!

I personally don’t know if the wedding feast will last 1,000 years, but I do know that those who know Christ as Savior and Lord are those who make up the Church, the bride of Christ.

I also know that right now the church is supposed to be making herself beautiful. We are to be busy keeping ourselves upright and pure. How do you want to be presented to Christ at the marriage of the Lamb?

One day Jesus Christ will come for His bride. We will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Are you a Christian? Have you come to faith in Jesus Christ. Make sure that you know that you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. And make sure today!

I also know that based on the Word of God that there will be a supper that follows the marriage, and that guests will be called to the marriage supper. Will they be O.T. saints and Tribulation saints? Again, I don’t know. But what I do know is that those called to the marriage supper will be “HAPPY” that they have been called to the marriage supper.