After the rapture of the church, two things will happen simultaneously: 1) The marriage of the Lamb in Heaven, and 2) The Tribulation on earth. The Marriage of the Lamb will be a very glorious celebration for all who are in Christ! Immediately after the Marriage of the Lamb, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will follow.
Today, we are going to be sharing on “THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB!” (1 Thess. 4:16-17)
In Revelations 19:6-9 the Bible said, "…Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth! 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." 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…9 Blessed are those who are called to THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB…"
The concept of the Marriage of the Lamb can be better understood in the light of the wedding customs in the time of Christ. These wedding customs had three major parts:
1. First, a marriage contract was signed by the parents of the bride and the bridegroom, and the parents of the bridegroom or the bridegroom himself would pay a dowry to the bride or her parents. This began what was called the betrothal period - what we would today call the engagement. This period was the one Joseph and Mary were in when she was found to be with child (Matt. 1:18).
2. The second phase in the process usually occurred a year later, when 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. This custom is the basis of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.
3. The third phase was the marriage itself part of which is the marriage supper, which might go on for days, as illustrated by the wedding at Cana in John 2:1-2.
John’s vision in Revelation truly pictures the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and His bride (the Church) in its third phase.
What does this imply? This implies that the first two phases have already taken place. The first phase was completed on earth when each individual believer placed his or her faith in Christ as Lord and Savior.
The dowry paid to the bride’s parents is the blood of Jesus Christ. That is to say that: The Church on earth today is “betrothed” to Christ, and, like the wise virgins in the parable, all believers should be “waiting and watching” for the sudden appearance of the Bridegroom (the Rapture).
The second phase symbolizes the Rapture of the Church, when Christ comes to receive His bride and take her to the Father’s house where the marriage will take place. The Marriage Supper then follows as the third and final phase.
The church, "the bride of Christ" and our Lord Jesus Christ will be officially married in Heaven. How will the bride of Christ be identified? The spotless garment of righteousness will identify the bride of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 5:26-27). They will be dressed in “fine linen,” which represents “the righteous acts of the saints.”
Ephesians 5:27 indicates the manner in which the Bride will be presented to Christ: "a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."
When will the marriage supper take place? The marriage supper of the Lamb will take place in Heaven after the Rapture and following the judgment seat of Christ, where the members of the church will be rewarded for their faithful service (See 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:10). The church, "the bride of Christ" and our Lord Jesus Christ will be officially married in Heaven.
While those on earth are suffering as a result of the Tribulation, the church will be enjoying a wedding in Heaven, followed by an unspeakable feast!
When will the marriage of the Lamb take place? Immediately after the judgment of rewards, which will take place after the Rapture, the Marriage of the Lamb will take place in heaven.
Is it everybody that can attend this wedding? No! You must be called (invited) before you can attend. Revelations 19:9 says, “…Blessed are they which are CALLED (invited) TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB…”
Who are those invited to the Marriage of the Lamb? These include:
1. The friends of the Bride and Groom! Who are these friends? These friends cannot be the Church because the Church is the Bride of Christ and you do not invite the bride or groom to their wedding.
The Old Testament saints will be in heaven and will have their rewards, but they are not the Bride of Christ. God called Abraham His friend (Isa. 41:8; Jam. 2:23). In Exodus 33:11 God spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to a friend. John the Baptist, the last Old Testament Prophet who came in the spirit of Elijah indicated that he was a friend of the Bridegroom (Jn. 3:29-30). So then, all the believing dead from Adam until the resurrection of Christ will be guests at this feast.
2. The other guests will be those saved during the Tribulation. In addition to them are those who will receive the Savior during the Tribulation, both Jew and Gentile, many of whom would have been martyred for the testimony of Christ. After going through the sea of glass mingled with fire, they will join the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. These ones may have missed the wedding itself.
What of the Old Testament Saints? We are by no means implying that the Old Testament saints are inferior to the Church, but we are merely pointing out the fact that the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is an experience reserved for the Church.
So, when Jesus came the first time, what did He come to do? He simply came for introduction, and to pay the dowry.
He went about introducing Himself saying, “I am the Bridegroom.” How did He accomplish that? Jesus went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38).
Jesus said to His bride, the church: 1. I have come to give you abundant life (Jn. 10:10), 2. I am from above (Jn. 8:23a), 3. I am the Dayspring from on High (Lk. 1:77-78), 4. I am not of this World (Jn. 8:23b), 5. I am the Bread of Life (Jn. 6:35), 6. I am the living bread (Jn. 6:51), 7. I am the Light of the world (Jn. 8:12), 8. I am He (Jn. 8:23-24), 9. I am the Door (Jn. 10:7-9), 10. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn. 14:6), 11. I am the Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11), 12. I am the Resurrection and the Life (Jn. 11:25-26), 13. I am the True Vine (Jn. 15:1), 14. I am the Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 1:8), 15. I am the Root and the Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16), 16. I will never leave you nor abandon you (Heb. 13:5).
Conclusion: To be continued!
Watch out for the next Edition of Good News from the Pulpit.
Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG) 12.10.25 @ the HQs.
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