Revelation 19:7

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.”

A. It is time to celebrate. This is not just a time to be happy. It is more than just a party.

B. It is time to celebrate the marriage of the Lamb. The time for the marriage has come and the bride (church) has made herself ready for the wedding.

Weddings

Some comments about the customs of the typical Jewish wedding of this era will be helpful. The comments here about the marriage feast and the marriage of the Lamb and his bride (the church) are based upon the custom of this time. There are at least four areas of importance.

1. Engagement. Coffman writes, “The betrothal, which often took place as much as a year before the actual marriage, was fully equivalent legally to the marriage itself; during this period of waiting, the bridegroom was absent preparing a place for the bride (as in John 14:1-13), and any infidelity upon her part was considered as adultery.” (5, 442) The church is the bride of Christ. We are engaged, and waiting for the wedding. (2 Corinthians 11:2)

2. Invitation. As the time of the wedding is approaching, the bride and groom invite many guests to come for the wedding. In Matthew 22:4; Matthew 22:9 the king is bidding many to come to the marriage. This is a parallel with Christians inviting people to come to the gospel.

3. Garments. As people come to the wedding, a garment is given. To make sure there not any uninvited guests, the king comes in and looks around to make sure all the guests are in their proper attire for the wedding. Those without the correct garment are removed. (Matthew 22:11) The parallel with the church is this: When we are baptized, we put off the garments of the flesh and put on the white garments. Our task to keep our white garment white and ready for the marriage.

4. Feast. We have been invited to the feast. This will take place in heaven. This will occur when the church, now waiting for the bridegroom to come, is taken to the home the groom is preparing. (John 14:3)