The beautiful first Divine Institution of marriage God made in the Garden of Eden
became very corrupted and polluted because of man’s sinful choices. The question here would be where is the
perfect marriage and perfection and where is the hope for believers.
What is marriage supper of the
Lamb?
Revelations chapter 19 has the
following subheadings:
- The
church in heaven and that on earth triumph, and praise the Lord for his
righteous judgments. (1-10)
- A vision of Christ going forth to destroy the beast and his armies. (11-21)
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev: 19:7-10; KJV.
Christ is the bridegroom of the Church,
and the second union will be completed in heaven, where there will be reign of Christ
and a state of happiness. This is considered as the celebration of His
espousals on earth. The Bride of Christ, the Church appeared in fine linen,
clean and white. The Church was robed in the righteousness of Christ, justified
and sanctified. This is the marriage of the Lamb and blessed are those who are
invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. There is tremendous hope for
believers in this earth who are waiting for this union, the true and perfect
marriage, the Marriage of the Lamb. Then the church
of Christ
The promises
of the gospel, the true sayings of God, opened, applied, and sealed by the
Spirit of God, in holy ordinances, are the marriage-feast. This seems to refer
to the abundant grace and consolation Christians will receive in the happy days
which are to come2.
The Matthew Henry Study Bible. King James Version
God is faithful and true to His promises
and He is righteous in all His judicial acts. The army He commands is a very
large one, and angels and saints followed His conduct and resembled Him, that
is believers who had a relationship with Him and followed His statues and
ordinances are in this army of God. Those who molested the Church and walked in
vanity and walked in their lusts and pleasures not following the ordinances of
God are thrown in the lake of fire.
Christ, the
glorious Head of the church, is described as on a white horse, the emblem of
justice and holiness. He has many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of
lords. He is arrayed in vesture dipped in his own blood, by which he purchased
his power as Mediator; and in the blood of his enemies, over whom he always
prevails. His name is "The Word of God;" a name none fully knows but
himself; only this we know, that this Word was God manifest in the flesh; but
his perfections cannot be fully understood by any creature. Angels and saints
follow, and are like Christ in their amour of purity and righteousness. The
threatening of the written word he is going to execute on his enemies. The
ensigns of his authority are his name; asserting his authority and power,
warning the most powerful princes to submit or they must fall before him. The
powers of earth and hell make their utmost effort. These verses declare
important events, foretold by the prophets. These persons were not excused
because they did what their leaders bade them. How vain will be the plea of
many sinners at the great day! We followed our guides; we did as we saw others
do! God has given a rule to walk by, in his word; neither the example of the
most, nor of the chief, must influence us contrary thereto: if we do as the
most do, we must go where the most go, even into the burning lake3.
Mathew Henry Commentary on
Revelations: 19:11-21.
New heavens and new earth: Revelations 21
This chapter has the following themes:
·
A new
heaven and new earth: the new Jerusalem where God dwells, and banishes all
sorrow from his people. (1-8)
·
Its
heavenly origin, glory, and secure defense. (9-21)
·
Its
perfect happiness, as enlightened with the presence of God and the Lamb, and in
the free access of multitudes, made holy. (22-27)
By new heaves and new earth
one may understand as new state off bodies of men, as well as heaven for their
souls. The old world where we are now with all its commotions, trouble and
conflict will vanish away. The New
Jerusalem is the Church
of God Church of God
The presence of God with His Church is the glory of the church. One may
wonder how a Holy God would dwell with the children of men. The presence of God
in the new heaven and new earth with men will be continuous, and their souls
will be assimilated with Him, filled with His love, honour and delight in God.
These are the people of God, who have gone through so much trials and
tribulation in the old earth, and are bought and redeemed, with the precious
blood of Jesus Christ.
In this new and blessed state people will be free from trouble and
sorrow and pain. All the effects of former trouble will be done away and their
tears will be wiped away and they have no remembrance of their pain and sorrow
any more. Those who inherit the new heaven and new earth where there is no more
sorrow are given the title true and
faithful. God is the author and finisher of our life, and He is the ALPHA
and OMEGA. Those who have been thirsting for this sinless perfection and the
uninterrupted enjoyment of God, are brought to this place according to their
desiring hearts.
The multitudes who are sealed on this earth, by His precious blood, the
saved souls are the inhabitants of this city, New Jerusalem, and they represent
people of all nations. These saints will have no impure things residing in
them, and no impure person is admitted to this place. In the physical church in
today’s context on this earth, there are impure people, who profane the
ordinances of God, and prostituted the church by worldly ends. Those who come
to the New Jerusalem are reserved, chosen,
and faithful and their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of life and are
visible in this Church.
20 He which testifieth
these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen; Rev: 22:20-21; KJV. This is Christ’s
farewell to His Church, and he parts with them in great
kindness and assures them that it shall not be long before He comes again to
them. Nothing should be more desired by us than the grace of Christ may be with
us in this world to prepare us for the glory of Christ in the new earth and the
new heavens.
The Bible starts with a definite first Divine Institution in the Garden
of Eden; which became imperfect and corrupted because of the tempter and the
wilful yielding in their choice. Again in the New Testament, God’s word
definitely gives us instructions for this mysterious relationship of marriage
and related that to Christ and the church. Apostle Paul calls this as a
mystery. The Bible finishes with a perfect marriage that is the wedding of the
Lamb, where the saved souls are in Union with
Christ, which is a mystery again. May the god of glory give us His peace and
understanding as we read the Scriptures, and may He not withhold any good thing
from those who walk uprightly.
May God help us to understand
scriptures the way it was written; inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is useful for knowing what
is right (teaching), pointing out what is not right
(rebuke), making things right (correction) and helps us to stay right
(training in righteousness) - 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Word of God, by the Spirit
and power of God, will help us build a healthy world view and we begin to see
circumstances differently, from a perspective that the world may not teach.
End Notes:
1, 2,
3 The Matthew Henry Study
Bible. King James Version. Iowa
Website References:
livingontheedge.org/...war-satan-demons-and-spritual-warfare.pdf ·
PDF file
Ephesians 6:11-18 Spiritual Warfare
– Ray C. Stedman ... Ephesians 6:18-20
... Ephesians 6:10-12 (NAS)
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Home; Passage Lookup
Book References:
1. Millard
J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids
2. R.T.
Kendall. Understanding Theology,
Developing a Healthy Church in the 21st Century, 1996, p. 357-364.
3. Jay E.
Adams. A Theology of Christian
Counseling, More than Redemption. Grand
Rapids
4. Louis
Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids
5. Robert P Lightner. Handbook
of Evangelical Theology, Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and
Review. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986, p.527-544.
6. Charles
Ryrie. Basic Theology. Chicago
7. A. H. Strong. Systematic
Theology. New Jersey
8. Wayne Grudem. Systematic
Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids
9. Steven
W. Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone, An
Outlined Guide To Bible Doctrine. Amarillo: Westcliffe Press, 2007,
p.188-191.
10. John
Theodore Muller, Th.D. Christian
Dogmatics, A handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and
Laymen. St. Louis, Mo: Concordia Publishing House, 1934,
p.384-386.
11.
Prayers To Move Your Mountains. Nashville
12.
John White. Parables, the Greatest Stories ever Told. Illinois
13.
ESV Study Bible. English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, Wheaton , Illinois
14.
The Matthew Henry Study Bible. King James Version. Iowa falls: World Bible
Publishers, Inc. 1990.
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