Marriage Supper

Just as the Jewish feasts proclaim the coming of Jesus Christ, their marriage celebration does as well. Jesus referenced this event when He said, ”I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).  It was customary for the bride to ready herself for her bridegroom as he prepared a place for them to live. When their new home was finished and at the approval of his father, the groom returned for his bride. This, my friend, is a beautiful and insightful picture of the joy that awaits the people of God when Jesus Christ returns for His bride and Church.

This is also why, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36).

Customs surrounding the marriage feast also relay the truth that we are to be found prepared and ready as a holy people of Christ. Revelation 19:7 says, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” “It is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY” (1 Peter 1:16).

Cana Wedding

The first miracle of Christ was at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. “And when the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine’" (John 2:3).  Jesus had the servants fill six stone water pots with water that he miraculously converted to wine. A molecular miracle only God could perform. And the headwaiter marveled that the bridegroom had saved the best for last.

Jesus began His ministry in Cana instead of Jerusalem, performing a sign that would reveal His glory to the humble in heart. The lowest of servants witnessed this wedding miracle along with His disciples and mother. “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11).

How appropriate that after three days in Galilee, the Messiah performed His first miracle at a wedding feast, who instead of turning the water into blood as Moses did in Egypt, changed the water into a celebratory wine for all in attendance. Joy instead of judgment. Relationship instead of ruin. Majesty instead of misery. Jesus came for salvation and to redeem His bride. No doubt He had His second coming in mind, knowing that the best was yet to come - at His own wedding!

The Church of Jesus Christ is His bride. When the New Covenant or Testament refers to the bride of Christ, the reference is to a union of saints redeemed by the blood of Christ from every nation to be received together when He returns.

Marriage events according to Jewish custom:

  • A relative such as the father typically selected the bride for the groom. “All that the Father gives me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37).

  • The marriage contract is drawn up and both parties commit to one another through water baptism as a testimony of cleansing and dedication. Jesus went to John for water baptism and said, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).

    Peter preached, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The Holy Spirit is a gift! It was also customary for the bridegroom to leave his bride with a gift as the promise of His return.

  • Prior to the marriage, the couple is separated. The bridegroom prepares a place for them to live and the bride prepares for his return. “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

    The bride was to be ready and have her lamps lit for His return. (Matt. 25:1-13) When he came back, she would hear a shout and trumpet announce him. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

    “Let the bridegroom come out of his room and the bride out of her bridal chamber” (Joel 2:16).

  • The marriage contract is signed.

    “In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished as He preached to His servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:8).

    The mystery of Christ and His Church (Jew and Gentile) is complete. Time for the seventh trumpet to sound and for both bridegroom and bride to be revealed!

  • Bride is veiled right before the ceremony.

    “But we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

  • The marriage is consummated with a supper celebration where the bride is unveiled and revealed. “And he said to me, ‘Write, Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God“ (Revelation 19:9).

    “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19).

    “And the seventh angel sounded; and there arose loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever’” (Revelation 11:15).

    It seems apparent that the kingdom and bride of Christ is revealed at the seventh and last trumpet.

  • The couple stands together under a finely decorated cloth which symbolizes a new home and life together finally realized. The bride is ornately adorned, and the bridegroom presented in stately glory.

    “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His possession, zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:11-14).

    “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2). Perfect and without sin.

    “Just as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15:49).

    “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).

What does Revelation say about the marriage feast?

THE BRIDE IS READY.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, ‘Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God” (Revelation 19:7-9).

JESUS RETURNS.

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).

THE MARRIAGE SUPPER

“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great. And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army” (Revelation 19:17-19).