The marriage supper of the Lamb is discussed in Revelation 19:6-10. Verse 9 notes, "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." What is this marriage supper?
In the time when Revelation was written, a marriage included three major aspects. The first part included an agreement between the parents of the bride and groom that usually included a dowry paid to the bride. This is still practiced in some cultures, called a betrothal, and is similar to a wedding engagement in Western cultures.
The second part usually involved the groom coming to the home of the bride at midnight. He and his male friends would arrive with torches to come for his bride. This is illustrated in the parable of the ten virgins found in Matthew 25:1-13.
The third part included the marriage feast, which often took place over several days. The wedding at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine offers an example of this (John 2:1-2).
In Revelation 19, the vision reveals the marriage supper beginning as the Lamb, Jesus Christ, comes to earth for His bride, the Church. The payment or dowry preceding this marriage supper was the blood of Jesus on the cross. His death paid the price.
In fact, Christians are currently living in this betrothal period in which we are pledged as the bride of Christ, yet have not been united in marriage. This will take place either at the rapture of the Church or at the conclusion of the tribulation period after the second coming of Christ. One's view on the rapture (whether it is pre-, mid-, or post-tribulational) plays a key role in identifying precisely who is included in the bride of Christ. The primary point of contention is whether or not tribulation saints (people who come to faith in Christ during the tribulation) are part of the bride of Christ.
Another interesting analogy in this passage includes the fine linen in which the Bride (believers in Christ) is clothed. Verse 8 called this fine linen "the righteous deeds of the saints." Though salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9), the good deeds of believers are called the clothing of "fine linen, bright and pure" (Revelation 19:8).
Copyright 2011-2024 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
