“Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and His Bride has made herself ready.”
(Revelation 19:7)
Marriage was originally established by God in the Garden of Eden between the first man, Adam, and his helpmate Eve, and was ordained as a covenantal relationship between a man and a woman and their God for a lifetime (Gen. 2:18). This biblical picture of marriage as a solemn and binding lifetime commitment is seen throughout the Old Testament and in ancient Jewish tradition.
The marriage covenant is also used in the New Testament to describe the relationship between Christ – the bridegroom, and His Church – the body of believers who collectively make up His bride. As such, a beautiful correlation exists between the salvation of a believer and the ancient Jewish customs surrounding marriage.
One such correlation is the marriage payment made by a bridegroom or his father to his bride and/or the bride’s family. An Old Testament example of this is found in Genesis 24. When Abraham sent his servant back to his homeland to find a wife for his son Isaac, the Lord led Abraham’s servant to Rebekah. And when Rebekah’s family granted the servant’s request to let Rebekah marry Isaac, verse 53 of that chapter says he “brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah; he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.”
The ultimate marriage payment was made for the bride of Christ – the Church – by both God the Father and His Son, the bridegroom, when Christ willingly laid down His life. The purchase price for our salvation was the precious blood of our Savior (John 15:13).
Another beautiful correlation is that ancient marriage tradition included two specific occasions, marked by two separate celebrations with an undetermined amount of time in between. The first was the betrothal, at which point the woman was considered legally married, though for a time she still lived in her father’s house. The second occasion was the wedding, when the bride, accompanied by an elaborate procession, was brought from her father’s house to the house of her groom, and the legal tie between them was consummated. The bride was to use the intervening time to prepare herself and to keep herself pure for her groom, so that at any moment she would be ready for his return for her.
At the moment of salvation, the believer is betrothed to Christ. We have already been purchased by His blood, and we belong to Him (1 Cor. 6:20). For these reasons, He is to be our first love (Deut. 6:5; Luke 10:27) and we are to keep ourselves pure (2 Cor. 7:1) while anticipating His coming.
And while we await our wedding day – the day He returns to take us to be with Him in the Father’s house (John 14:3) – we are to be making ourselves ready (Matt. 24:42, 25:13, 2 Peter 3:14). As the betrothed bride of Christ, it should be evident to those who know us that our heart and our life belongs to Him. He is preparing heaven for us (John 14:3); are we devoted to preparing ourselves for heaven and for Him?
A final correlation is this: on their wedding day, the husband and his new bride took up residence in the groom’s father’s home. In the narrative of Isaac and Rebekah above, Isaac stayed in the home of his father and the servant brought Rebekah to him there (Gen. 24:67).
Listen to Jesus tells His disciples in John 14:2-3: “I go to prepare a place for you [in My Father’s house]. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” A celebration feast awaits us on our arrival (Rev. 19:7-9), as well as our attire for this celebratory feast. As His bride, we will be dressed in fine white linen – representing the glorious righteousness of Christ. In preparation for our wedding day, we are to keep ourselves pure for Him that we may not be ashamed at His coming (1 John 2:28, Eph. 5:25-27).
For if we devote our heart and life to Him now, we can be assured of our joy and happiness then. Weddings are by nature joyous occasions. How much more so will be the heavenly celebration of the marriage of the Lamb! On that day our joy will be full because we will see our bridegroom face to face. Our relationship will no longer be based in faith… but in sight. The church will then be perfect and complete, no longer tempted by sin or burdened with affliction.
Jonathan Edwards rightly commented on Revelation 19:7 when he said, “It is observable all along in the visions of that book, the hosts of heaven appear as much concerned and interested in the events appertaining to the kingdom of Christ here below, as the saints on earth.” The wedding party of heaven joyously anticipates that glorious day. The marriage of the Lamb represents the gladness of God’s heart, for as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so Christ will rejoice over His church. And all heaven will rejoice with Him, “Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come!” (Rev.19:7).
- It is amazing to know that Christ is not only God, but the Husband of His church. There is one church – a virtuous virgin bride – embraced by one husband, Jesus Christ for all eternity. In this I rejoice!
- Lord Jesus, You reign over Your Church as her Head and Surety by an indissoluble union; not only as God, but also as our Mediator. You are the Head over this wonderful “kingdom” as our Lord and Christ (Rev. 11:15; 12:10) and the consummation of our betrothal to you will be the marriage of the Lamb when you return to take us home to be with You (Rev. 19:7). What Christian can help anticipating that glorious day?
- If I intend to have any part in that kingdom which the Lord Jesus purchased with His own blood, I must be “up and doing” that which the bride of the Lamb is said to have done in Revelation 19:7, that is to “make yourselves ready.” How well do I do this Lord? I know I am saved and justified, but am I ready in my sanctification to attend that great marriage supper? Have I made myself ready?
- I know that doubts and questions about life hereafter cause fear, and those fears can create an unwillingness to leave here and go there. And yet I know that my diligence to holiness and preparation for that day gives rise to assurance (Heb. 6:11- 12). There is a big difference between someone who says they are a Christian and merely wants assurance that they will be attending the great supper of the Lamb, and an active Christian in his voyage to the blessed supper. Serious Christians have gained this assurance. Do I have this assurance Lord?
Further References for Rev. 19:7
Matt. 22:2, 25:10; Hosea 2:19; Luke 12:36; Eph. 5:32; Isa 62:5
