The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

 The Great Banquet and Discipleship

 Book of Luke Chapter 14

 

  The chief Pharisee of the Jews invited the Lord Jesus to a meal at his home on a Sabbath Day.

 The word Sabbath signifies a Day of Rest, a Sabbath of the soul.

 The Sabbath is the sign of the covenant between the LORD and His earthly people, the Israelites.

 Exo 31:13  Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

Exo_31:14  Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

 In reality, the Sabbath represents the soul resting in Jesus Christ: Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God, the Church. 

 Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 

Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 

 The Pharisees had no clue about the truth of the Sabbath, but they intended to somehow get the Lord Jesus to stumble on the day of this feast.

 What is the truth of the Sabbath? Jesus said: Mar 2:27  And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 

Mar 2:28  Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. 

 The priests of the Temple had much work to do on the Sabbath days, yet they were not considered to be breaking the Law of the Sabbath.

 Mat 12:5  Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 

 Every Jew would take care of their animals on the Sabbath, just as they would on any other day, and it was not considered work.

 The point being that the Lord Jesus Christ is far greater than any priest, and the Lord Jesus also had work to do.

 *****Luk 14:15  And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

 To eat bread in the Kingdom of God means to be among those who are present in the joys of the Messianic Kingdom.

 Here we see a self-righteous man is smugly sure that he will be among the righteous who will be in Heaven.

 The main importance of this passage is to get a clear picture of the invitation of the Lord to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, which cannot happen until we have accepted that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah sent from God.

 1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 

1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 

 We know that we cannot get to Heaven without the Lord Jesus Christ.

 To these self-righteous Pharisees, they could think only of the Messianic Feast.

 This was a supposed feast given to God's people, the Jews only, when He sets up His Millennial Kingdom.

 The Lord Jesus will use another parable to explain to this Pharisee the error in his thought process.

 It was customary for guests who were invited to these feasts of the Pharisees to attend.

 Israel had actually been invited to the Messianic Feast by God's messengers, the Prophets, but they had all made excuses about attending in an insulting manner.

 If any people thought that God owed them a place in the Messianic Kingdom, it was these Pharisees.

 They felt they would have the highest seats in God's Kingdom.

 The Lord Jesus begins to teach a parable that they found easy to understand.

 *****Luk 14:16  Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 

Luk 14:17  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 

 This parable sends out a strong message to all the people of this earth for whom the Lord Jesus Christ died.

 No one can be saved or attend this feast unless they have received an invitation and have responded to it!'

This feast is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 

Those who make excuses will remain lost!

 All things are ready for today is the Day of Salvation.

 2Co_6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 The invitation is sent to all who have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, seen the Gospel, or read the Gospel.

 What has Israel done with the Lord's invitation, along with many others?

 *****Luk 14:18  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 

Luk 14:19  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 

Luk 14:20  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 

 We must keep in mind that God wants to share His riches with all people, but God also has determined the process of accepting His invitation.

 All these people mentioned had received God's invitation, and now it was time to decide on attending.

 God sent His servant to remind them that they had received an invitation.

 We should notice that God's invitations had first been sent to the super religious men of Israel, the Pharisees.

 Joh 7:47  Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 

Joh 7:48  Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 

 The modern Pharisees are all those who believe they will get into God's Heaven because of their good works.

 What had the Lord Jesus said? Mat_19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

 There is no work we can do to get into God's Heaven; we reach Heaven only if we have "faith" in the work of Lord Jesus Christ to bring forgiveness to us.

 They all agreed to make excuses for rejecting God's invitation to the Feast of God.

 The first excuse came from a businessman.

 His excuse was that he had bought a piece of land and he needed to look after it.

 If God is the center of our life, then any business, any profession, or any affair would not be allowed to consume our life, and God would be first in our lives.

 ,Next, we see a man who was wrapped up in a new purchase.

 An oxen team would be like buying a new tractor to plow with today, and he wanted to go play on it.

 It could be a new house, a new car, a new motorcycle, or even a new television, all material things, but material things should never keep us away from God.

 Third, we see a man who was wrapped up in his family.

 He had made a new marriage, and even if this marriage was ordained of God, we are never to put our wives before God. This is what Adam did, and sin entered the world, and we are still suffering with sin today.

 Salvation is just too important for us to give it up for material things, or family and friends, or any other reason.

 When we show contempt for the Word of God, we should not wonder that God gets angry.

 We know that some in Israel have accepted God's invitation, but there is still much room for many more.

 *****Luk 14:21  So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 

Luk 14:22  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 

Luk 14:23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

 Now the Lord sends His invitation to the Gentiles.

 We should understand that nothing will make God stop His plan of salvation.

 No power on this earth can cause God to cease His invitation to receive the free gift of salvation.

 To compel does not mean to coerce people to come to God; it means to assure them that it was God who sent them an invitation.

 We must all clearly understand that just getting an invitation to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb does not mean we will be accepted.

 There will still be a Marriage Feast in Heaven, whether we have been invited or not!

 The Lord Jesus is going to fill His banquet hall, but time is running out to accept His invitation.

 The Lord Jesus invites those who need some help to get to the banquet.

All sinners need the Lord’s help to get to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

The self-righteous need no help; they will be rejected.

 If you are a sinner, you will need the Lord's help to be accepted to the Feast.

 If you are too poor, the Lord will provide the right clothing.

 2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

 Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 If you are lame or crippled, the Lord will provide the means to get to His Feast.

 If you are blind, the Lord will guide or direct you to His Feast.

 As long as the Lord has room at His table, He will continue to accept us at His Feast through His “Mercy” and “Grace”. 

But those who were first invited and had nothing but excuses for not coming, they will not be accepted to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb of God.

 God said His House shall be filled! Therefore came "Grace".

Grace makes a way because the Law has failed!

 *****Luk 14:24  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

These are the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who would be rejected were the ones the Lord Jesus was eating with at that time.

These are the ones the Lord Jesus used this parable on.

Though a few of the Israelites have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior, the majority of them have rejected Him.

The Apostle Paul wrote: Act 13:46  Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 

Act 13:47  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 

The Lord Jesus is not through with them, but they will go through the seven years of Tribulation.

Rom 11:11  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 

Rom 11:15  For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

God had shown His "Grace" to the Israelites many times throughout the Old Testament, but they could not comprehend the power of God’s Grace at that time. Israel will join the Church that is planted by the Lord Jesus Christ.

For the Jews, there were two stages: the present age and the age to come, which was the Messiah's reign on this earth.

The prophets had written much about these things.

Because they reject the New Testament, they have missed New Heaven and New Jerusalem.

The redeemed believers of all ages will live in New Jerusalem.

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

The New Jerusalem is also the New Heaven, the Kingdom of God.

This is the place of all God's banquets.

Mat 8:11  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 

This is not the place of unbelievers.

Mat 8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Heaven is a real place!

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 

Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 

There is still time to get an invitation to the Marriage  Supper of the Lamb, but time is running out.

God has made a way for the Israelites after and during the Tribulation period, but He has not made a way for Gentiles.

Amen

The Heavenly Marriage

The Marriage of the Lamb

Book of Revelation Chapter 19 Verses 1 through 10

Some things we should understand. Prior to the return of Jesus Christ to this earth, His marriage to the Church, (the Bride of Christ) will take place in Heaven.

We know that from our last lessons, when the Lord Jesus Christ caused the 144,000 Jews to get to Heaven then, at that time, there will be the Lord and the Bride of Christ finally in the same place (Heaven) together, and this marriage will take place.

When the Lord returns with the armies of Heaven and the Saints, then the marriage of the Lamb of God has already taken place!

The "Judgment Seat" of Christ has also already taken place!

The Lord Jesus will after these things, return to Judge the earth in His wrath.

What did the Prophets teach us?

Zec 14:2  For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 

Zec 14:3  Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 

Zec 14:4  And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 

Isa 66:15  For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 

Isa 66:16  For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. 

It is the marriage supper that will then take place in Israel upon this earth.

It is at this time the Lord will return to save the Jews, according to their works!

And Christ Jesus gave us this parable:

Mat 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 

Mat 25:22  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 

Mat 25:23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 

Mat 25:24  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 

Mat 25:25  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 

Mat 25:26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 

Mat 25:27  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 

Mat 25:28  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 

Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 

Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

The remainder of the world will be "judged" regarding their treatment of the Jews.

Again the prophet Joel:

Joe 3:1  For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 

Joe 3:2  I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 

Joe 3:9  Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up

Joe 3:11  Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 

Joe 3:12  Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

After the marriage of the Lamb to the Bride of Christ, these other things will take place!

Now let us witness the marriage of the Bridegroom in Heaven.

*****Rev 19:1  And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 

We may ask after what things.

After the destruction of Babylon, the False Church and Babylon the economic System of the Antichrist from Chapters 17 and 18.

Notice that word "Alleluia" the one word that is universal in its meaning, (Praise God)!

Alleluia has become the cry of victory in Heaven.

This scene takes place in Heaven as the celebration begins as the "Great Whore" of false religion has been destroyed.

All religions that reject the Bible as the truth of God have been destroyed.

All these things happen because our God is all powerful!

The Lord is absolutely true and righteous in Himself!

The Lord is absolutely true and righteous in all His actions!

Heaven will now prepare for the Marriage of the Lamb of God.

*****Rev 19:2  For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 

Rev 19:3  And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

We must remember the souls under the altar.

Rev 6:9  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 

Rev 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 

Rev 6:11  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 

Their rest is now over for their death had been avenged!

They say Alleluia for the Lord doing as He said He would do.

False religion, which has been influenced by Satan all these years, was the tool used to corrupt the people of this earth.

Salvation belongs to God. He sent His Son to die in payment for all our sin!

He has given us His written Word to explain who He is and why He does what He does. 

He has given us purpose and He has been open to all peoples since He created Adam and Eve.

Over and over again, we have seen that the plans of God have existed before He created any part of our world, and he has given us line by line of His plan that He has followed without deviating from it at any time.

It is not just the souls under the altar who celebrate. The entire Church joins in for another promise will be fulfilled.

*****Rev 19:4  And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

The four and twenty elders, who represent all the redeemed of the Lord celebrate the victory of the Lamb.

We will all rejoice. The raptured Saints of God. Those souls who have been reunited with their bodies. All those who have been martyrs all these years.

All the 144,000 Jews, and every Saint who has come to Heaven during the Great Tribulation, and I believe all those who have the faith of Abraham before the Lord came to the earth the first time.

Heaven will be a place of celebration!

Heaven will be a place of Alleluia.

Psa 106:48  Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD. 

If you do not like joyful loud praise and worship, you will not like Heaven at all.

It becomes the people of God to be full of joy!

To be honest there is not much joy on this earth.

We Christians should always have a certain amount of joy, after all look at our great future!

And we will miss out on the wrath of God. We will miss out on the Great Tribulation!

Jesus said He will never leave us, and Jesus will live forever and ever!

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 

The Lord Jesus Christ is God!

*****Rev 19:5  And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 

Rev 19:6  And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

We must cast our bountiful praise to the One who was found worthy to open the Book of Revelation, the "Revealing" of the Lord Jesus Christ!

If we cannot do this while we live, what makes us think we will do this at this time in Heaven?

Every sorrow we have been through and have witnessed, will not be remembered when Jesus has completed His work on this earth.

Every single tear will be wiped away by the loving hands of God!

The Marriage of the Lamb of God is about to take place and all of Heaven takes notice of this most wonderful event.

That word "omnipotent" means the One who possesses unlimited power!

Jesus said:

Mat_28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth".

Much of that power is used to provide eternal life to all of us who love Him!

Joh_17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, "that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him".

Nowhere in God's creation is there One more powerful than the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ!

We should be rejoicing now because we do not have to wait to get to Heaven.

It will just be much sweeter in Heaven.

The wedding of the Lamb of God is about to take place.

The one greatest time we will ever have as Christians.

We will be presented by the Son (the Lord Jesus) to our Heavenly Father as His Bride!

*****Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

We immediately see that this time is special to the Lamb. It is the Lamb of God who has been patiently waiting on this day!

Here on earth we focus on the Bride but should truly focus on the Lamb of God!

In Heaven all the focus will be on the Lamb!

The same Lamb that was found to be worthy to open the Book.

Rev 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 

It is Hallelujah time in Heaven!

It is rejoicing time in Heaven!

The Bride, all the "Redeemed" have made themselves ready by clinging to the faith. That faith in the work the Lord Jesus Christ has done so that we could be "Redeemed" and able now to stand before our Heavenly Father as the Bride of Christ, with the true Messiah.

When will this wedding take place? It will take place just before the Lord returns to this earth as King.

Remember the Lord first destroyed the "false religious system" of the Antichrist.

He next destroyed the "political system" of the Antichrist.

Billions of people had died because they rejected the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Earth was in flames!

When the Lord returns after the Wedding, He will restore the earth as it was in the days of Adam and Eve and reign as King.

The Lord would fulfill the promises He had made to King David and all the things of the prophets.

These things must take place quickly because there will still those living upon the earth who had not taken the "Mark of the Beast".

The world would be a much better place if we would focus on the Lord Jesus Christ now during the "Church Age"!

Jesus said He would build His Church:

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

It was true, not even Hell could stand against the Church!

The Church on earth became the "Body of Christ":

Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 

Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 

The Jews and the Gentiles have now been reconciled:

1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 

Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 

Eph 4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 

Eph 4:6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

The reconciled Body of Christ now becomes the Bride:

Eph 5:1  Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 

Eph 5:2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 

Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 

Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

As the Bride, we have been waiting until this time that has officially arrived:

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

Joh 14:3  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. 

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

How has the Bride made herself ready?

By accepting in faith the truth of God!

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

How has the Bride made herself lovely?

Joh_3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh_3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

1Pe_1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

And it has come time to put on the wedding apparel.

*****Rev 19:8  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. 

As the saints of God we must dress properly for our wedding with the Lamb of God.

How had Jesus found us?

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 

We were terrible sinners!

We might even ask how could a Holy God ever see us as His future Bride?

None of us could claim to be better than others and it be true!

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

We were sentenced to eternal death and there was no remedy for our situation!

Our choice was to remain the same or accept the free gift of God!

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

There had to be a way!

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

We had to learn about "faith"!

Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 

We had to be constant in our faith to grow in Christ!

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

We had to put on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom_13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Gal_3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

We had to dress as Christ!

1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

The Church had finally reached the object of her joy! United forever, never to be separated. All sin and evil wickedness soon to be eternally imprisoned in the Burning Lake of fire.

And the Bridegroom said:

*****Rev 19:9  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. 

What do we know about the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb"?

It is a celebration event that takes place on earth because Israel has finally repented in honor of the of the marriage of Jesus Christ to His Church and the beginning of, the 1000-year Millennial Kingdom.

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The word "blessed" in this Scripture means "happy and contented" are those which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

All those who are the happiest in this world today are those who know they are going to the "marriage supper" of the Lamb!

Yes, we can know that we will be there!

The Apostle John takes just a moment to tell us that these are the very words of God.

We must realize though there is the Spiritual Babylon and a few places where the Lord uses symbolism but for the most part the Book of Revelation is to be taken literally! Just as it is written, and we would be foolish not to!

It is the Word of God that is the basis of our faith.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 

Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 

Let us review:

The false church has been eliminated.

The wedding has taken place in Heaven.

The wedding music has played.

The Bridegroom is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The saints of God are the Bride.

The Bride is wearing the right garments "righteousness".

We are discussing the wedding reception in this verse. The Marriage Supper.

We will soon begin our 1000 years honeymoon here on the remade earth.

After those 1000 years the Bridegroom will take His bride home to be with Him forever in Heaven.

And then "they will live happily ever after!

It is believed that these guests, who are being called are the Old Testament Saints such as John the Baptist who was a friend of the Groom.

Joh 3:29  He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 

By the statement made by this messenger, he was one of those Old Testament Saints or at least a blood bought child of God.

John was so excited with what these words that he fell down to worship the one who gave him this message, which was not the Lord.

We are to worship no one but the Almighty God, Our Creator, Elohim, The Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 

What do we know? We know that many people even some in the Church laugh and make fun of prophesy, but the truth is, the Lord Jesus loves prophesy. 

The Lord Jesus, He is the Spirit of prophecy!

He alone is worthy of our worship!

He alone is worthy of our conversations.

All other conversations are in reality vain!

Being Christian is to be like Christ Jesus and He loved prophecy and we should to!

Next lesson we get to see the true Second Coming of the Lord.

At the "Rapture", the Lord came as a thief and stole His Church(Bride) from this earth.

At the true Second Coming, He will return to the Mount of Olives, the same place where He left this earth to go back home for a while.

If you want to know the truth, then you must meet Jesus Christ and it would be best to meet Him during the Church Age!

Amen