Marriage of the Lamb

THE PROCLAMATION OF our Key Verse, according to the scriptural account, is said to have been as the sounds of a “great multitude,” “many waters,” and “mighty thunderings,” all of which give praise and honor to God. (vs. 6) This is a most blessed prelude to the grand prophetic announcement of the time when the “marriage of the Lamb,” Christ Jesus, and his “wife,” will take place. This “bride” of Christ consists of the faithful members of his “body,” the “elect,” the “hundred and forty and four thousand,” whose “names are written in heaven.”—I Cor. 12:27; I Pet. 1:2; Luke 10:20; Rev. 14:3-5; 21:2

The making “ready” of the bride is the work of the present age. Each prospective member of this called-out class has been clothed with a “robe of righteousness”—the righteousness of Christ. (Isa. 61:10) Upon this robe is to be embroidered, “in raiment of needlework,” the cultivated character qualities of the fruits and graces of the Spirit. Only thus can she be counted “all glorious within,” and be “brought unto the king,” her bridegroom, Christ Jesus.—Gal. 5:22,23; II Pet. 1:5-8; Ps. 45:13,14

Verse 8 of our lesson states, “And to her [the bride of Christ] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Herein is a beautiful picture. During the present age of the bride’s development, her righteousness is only found in the spotless “robe” of Jesus, which covers her Adamic imperfections. However, once faithful unto death, and presented at the “marriage of the Lamb,” the “fine linen, clean and white,” is shown to be the bride’s own righteousness, the “righteousness of saints.”

Then John the Revelator hears these words, “Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Rev. 19:9) Just as in an earthly wedding, where there is only one bride and one groom, the marriage of the Lamb will include only Jesus and the bride class. However, following most marriage ceremonies is a banquet and feast, to which many guests are invited to attend. Those who are “called unto the marriage supper” seems to refer to these. Although the verse does not specifically say who these “guests” are who attend the symbolic marriage feast, we can reasonably conclude that at least two groups will be included. First, The Great Multitude, those who are “before” the throne but not on the throne, the focus of our lesson for November 7. Second, it would seem appropriate that the myriads of holy angels will also have the privilege of attending this great feast. Indeed, they have been “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them [the bride] who shall be heirs of salvation.”—Heb. 1:14

Returning again to our Key Verse, it begins, “Let us be glad and rejoice.” Great will be the rejoicing in heaven and in earth at the bride’s abundant entrance into the King’s palace. All mankind will rejoice in the glorification of the church, through which blessings will then begin to flow throughout the earth to all people. Their eyes of understanding will be opened, and they will rejoice to see God’s great loving plan to lift up and recover the race from the ravages of sin and death. Thus, mankind, too, will sing praises to God as a result of the “marriage of the Lamb.”