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3. Preparations for the Marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-10)
The Great Invitation (v 9): Banished on the Island of Patmos, the Patriarch John breathlessly listened to the message of the angel. Much of what he saw, heard and wrote went beyond his human understanding. The angel dictated to the prophet, therefore, the summary of his special announcement in one single pithy sentence: “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9)
So that John would comprehend the depth of this promise, the angel assured him that this enormous pledge contained the words of God, that had directly proceeded from His mouth (Matthew 4:4). His words are full of power, truth and comfort.
The great, mysterious word “blessed” appears eight times in the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:3; 14:3; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 21:24; 22:7, 14). We would do well to study, believe and live out these blessings of the end time. By so doing, we will experience the wealth of these marvelous promises. The word “blessing” contains various manifestations of God's grace: one sanctified is blessed and gifted with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:16-19). In spite of all suffering he lives in the comforting joy and delight of the Holy Spirit (Philippians 4:4). He can be proud of his Lord (1 Corinthians 1:30-31), and is worthy to live with Him and for Him (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). The blessed ones will fellowship with delight at the Lord's Table (Psalm 23:1-6; John 10:27-30). The peace and good will of God will rest upon them (Luke 2:14).
The angel's words assured John that all of the named aspects of everlasting happiness, and much more, would be realized in those who have been invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Jesus described with absolute clarity the special invitation to the marriage of the king's son (Matthew 22:2-14). In so doing, He revealed the shocking fact that those who had been originally invited came up with questionable excuses, and were not willing to come. But the wretched and unworthy, the sinners and foreigners, the flipped-out and the hungry, gladly accepted the king's invitation. Therefore, the Lord said: “Many are called, but few are chosen”.
What is Special about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? (v 9): It remains an undeserved honor for every invited guest that the Son of God, for the sake of His suffering and death, invites him to sit at table with Him and His Father. The sin that separated is gone, extinguished, blotted out by the Lamb of God. Nothing more separates us from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We have the privilege to sit at table with all the saints, with Abraham, Moses and Isaiah, with Peter, John and Paul (Matthew 8:11; 26:29).
If someone should ask what will there be to eat at the marriage supper of the Lamb, we will be reminded of the Paschal Lamb, which was roasted and entirely eaten by each family. At the initiation of the Lord's Supper, within the background of this Paschal ordinance, Jesus said: “Take, eat; this is My body! – Drink from it, all of you, this, My blood!” (Matthew 26:26-28). What we observe on earth as a sacrament is, in all reality, completed in heaven. The Lamb that was offered for us will dwell in us and fill His entire church with Himself (John 6:53-58; Colossians 2:9-10). It does not have to do with earthly pleasures at the Lord's Supper, as Muslims imagine their paradise to be, but of the realization of the statement of faith in Jesus' high priestly prayer: “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in me; that they may be made perfect in one.” (John 17:22-23)
At this place in the vision of John the picture of the bride of the Lamb has been transformed into an invitation for the marriage guests. Without doubt, and in a purely logical way, the bride and the bridegroom are totally different and distinct from the guests invited to the marriage. But, seen spiritually, both have the same as their goal – the complete union of the Lamb of God with His beloved. The guests experience the same grace as the bride, to be eternally united with God and His Son (1 John 4:16). Unity with Jesus and His Father is the true reason for the happiness and bliss of the saints.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, we worship You because You granted us, during the earthly Lord's Supper, to eat the secret of Your body, and to drink the secret of Your blood so that You might dwell in and cooperate with us for the glorification of Your holy name. We give thanks for Your love, Your self-sacrifice, and Your spiritual union with us. Help many of the invited guests to become united with You. Amen.
QUESTION:
- What does your invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb of God in heaven mean to you?