“THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB”
Revelation 19:7-9 John 14:1-3
INTRODUCTION:
A. Heaven awaits the marriage of Christ, the Bridegroom, and the Church, His Bride.
B. Scriptures that tell of the coming wedding: Ephesians 5:25; Matthew 22:1; 25:1-13;
II Corinthians 11:2
I. THE MARRIAGE PICTURED
The marriage of Isaac to Rebekah is a type of the marriage of Christ and the Church.
Genesis 24:1-63
A. Abraham
A type of the Father/King who would make a marriage for His Son - vs. 1-4 (cf.
Matthew 22:2)
B. Unnamed servant - v. 2 (Luke 14:17, contra. Matthew 22:3)
1. Seeks a bride for the one who has already passed through death and
resurrection(Genesis 22:5-14; Hebrews 22:17-19)
2. Speaks only of the Bridegroom and not of Himself. (John 15:36)
3. Seeks only to glorify the bridegroom (John 16:14)
C. The ministry of the servant
1. Enriching the Bride with the Bridegroom’s gifts - v. 53 (Cf. Romans 12:3-8;
Ephesians 4:8-10)
2. Earnest of the inheritance - the wedding guarantee (cf. Ephesians 1:14)
D. The servant
A type of the Holy Spirit bringing the Bride to meet the Bridegroom vs. 61-65
(John 3:5; 16:7-11; I Corinthians 12:3)
E. Rebekah
1. A type of the Church - always pictured as a woman (Cf. Ephesians 5:22-27;
Revelation19:7-9)
2. The chaste virgin - v. 16 (Ephesians 5:27; II Corinthians 11:2)
Spotless and flawless
F. Isaac
1. A type of the Bridegroom
2. “Whom having not seen” the Bride loves through the testimony of the
Unnamed Servant - v. 58 (I Peter 1:8)
3. A type of Christ praying for His Bride, the Church - v. 63 (John 17:11)
4. A type of Christ in His love for the the Church, His bride - v. 67 (Cf.
Ephesians 5:25)
5. A type of the Bridegroom who goes out to meet His Bride and takes her home to
be with Himself - v. 67 (I Thessalonians 4:14-17)
II. THE MARRIAGE PROCEDURE
A. To understand the marriage of the Lamb, we must know the custom of the Jewish
wedding.
B. Three stages of the wedding
1. Betrothal
a. The establishment of the marriage covenant
1) The Bridegroom takes the initiative - John 15:16
2) The price negotiated - Revelation 13:8
3) The price paid - I Corinthians 6:19, 20
b. From this moment the Bride was set apart exclusively for the Bridegroom -
Ephesians 5:25-27; I Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; Hebrews 10:10; 13:12.
2. Separation
a. After the marriage covenant had been established, the Groom would leave
the home of the Bride and return to His Father’s house. Acts 1:9
b. The Groom remains separate from His Bride for 12 months. (I Peter 1:8)
1) The Bride prepared her trousseau. Revelation 19:7, 8
2) The Groom prepared their living accommodations. John 14:1-3
c. At the end of the separation, the Groom comes to take His Bride to live with
Him..
1) Usually took place at night. I Thessalonians 5:1, 2
2) The Bride never knew when the Bridegroom would come for her.
Acts 1:7
3) She had to be ready at all times for His appearing. I John 2:28
4) To announce His arrival and forewarn the Bride, the Groom was
preceded by a shout. I Thessalonians 4:16
3. The marriage supper or wedding reception
a. The Groom takes the Bride away to His Father’s house.
Rapture - I Thessalonians 4:17
b. Wedding guests were assembled at the Father’s house.
Old Testament Saints - “Friends of the Bridegroom” John 3:29
c. Consummation of the marriage shortly after their arrival - spiritual union.
d. During the next seven days after the consummation, the Bride would
remain hidden in the bridal chambers. (The church in heaven during the 7
years of the Tribulation period on earth.)
e. At the end of the 7 days, the Groom would bring His bride out of the bridal
chamber so that all could see her. Colossians 3:4 - Millennium
f. During the wedding reception, it was the Groom who was celebrated - to
glorify Christ.
III. THE MARRIAGE PROGRAM
A. The betrothal is made on the earth.
B. The separation ends with the Rapture.
C. The marriage supper takes place in heaven during the 7 years of Tribulation on earth.
D. The Bride will be manifested on earth during the 1000 years.
E. The honeymoon will last throughout eternity.
CONCLUSION:
“The Bride eyes not her garment
But her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory,
But on my King of Grace.
Not at the crown He giveth,
But on His pierced hand,
The Lamb is all the glory
In Immanuel’s Land.”
--Samuel Rutherford
END