7Let 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… 9And 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. Revelation 19:7-9
We know of the realization of this eschatological event by the only direct reference made in Revelation, in no other writing of the New Testament appears in direct reference, which leads us to understand that the teaching corresponds to a direct Revelation that Jesus gave to his disciples of which the disciples did not speak until when God certifies it through the writings of the apostle John.
The Marriage of the lamb, in Greek, ο γαμος του αρνιου, represents the meeting of Jesus Christ with those called out of this world, including among them not only the church of Jesus but all those who before Him fulfilled the righteousness of God. The marriage of the lamb is a prophetic act that marks the end of the Adamic era, highlights above all, the beginning of the messianic reign of Jesus with a duration of a thousand years, then begin the spiritual stage of the new heavens and new earth of which also speaks Apocalypse.
13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2nd. Peter 3:13
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Revelation 21:1
Who is the lamb of God, and where does the term come from?
The theme of the Lamb of God is introduced in the proclamation of the Gospel for the first time by John the Baptist; it is John who presents Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,
29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world… 36and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! John 1:29-36
The allusion is in reference to the lamb sacrificed on the night of Pesach, on the 14th day of the month of Abib, on the eve of the liberation and departure of the people of Israel from the hands of the Egyptian people, a story described in Exodus 12,
6and ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it… 12For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:6-13
The Pesach lamb is introduced from that date as an annual commemoration to remember the strong hand with which God brought them out of the slavery of Egypt.
25And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? 27 that ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. Exodus 12:25-27
The prophet Isaiah takes up again the theme of the lamb of the Exodus, only that unlike the literal animal sacrificed for the Passover supper, Isaiah presents it as a person, although it maintains the same semblance of the Passover lamb, emphasizes that this person will die in place of his people, on whom hangs a death decree. Isaiah’s prophecy describes God’s decision to bring for a person, deliverance from the bondage that sin has exerted upon Adam’s generation, in the way the people were delivered from Egyptian bondage,
7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7
The teaching of the Passover lamb of the Exodus along with the prophecies of Isaiah is taken up by the apostles and included in the doctrine of Christ as part of the doctrine of Salvation,
32The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: Acts 8:32 (Isaiah 53:7)
19but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1st. Peter 1:19
Although the Lamb of God is a subject of the Gospel of the Kingdom as part of the doctrine of salvation, the term appears almost exclusively in the book of Revelation.
6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth… 8And 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… 12 saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Revelation 5:6-13
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer… 16and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: Revelation 6:1-16
9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb… 14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb… 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:9-17
11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11
8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads… 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb… 10the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: Revelation 14:1-10
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Revelation 15:3
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. Revelation 17:14
The lamb of God, also known as, the lamb as immolated, which is another alternate term, is Jesus, who in the book of Revelation is presented as the only one worthy to open the book and untie its seals. The marriage of the lamb is a singular act, and refers to the meeting of Jesus with all those who walked in the light of His teachings, including those dictated in the Law of Moses. In the Scriptures different terms are used to define them, for example, the children of faith, the children of righteousness, the children of promises, the children of Revelation. According to the teaching of the apostle Paul, those called to the marriage are those who heeded the recommendation of Jesus dictated in the Law,[1] to be holy as He is holy.
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27that 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. Ephesians 5:25-27
Holiness is also presented by the apostle Peter, except that in the case of his writings, the subject does not appear as an extension of the commandment of Leviticus, but as the requirement to participate in the marriage of the lamb, which for the effects of the doctrine of the apostles, is the beginning of a new stage of life on earth led by the worldwide establishment of the kingdom of Jesus,
15but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 1st. Peter 1:15
The exhortation to holiness is also presented in the book of Revelation, precisely as the characteristic of their participation in weddings,
7Let 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. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. Revelation 19:7-8
What does the marriage of the lamb consist of?
The marriage of the lamb takes place in parallel with another event described in the book of Revelation as the vials of God’s wrath.[2] While all over the world the vials of wrath will be poured out, in Jerusalem, the private activity of the “marriage of the lamb” will be celebrated.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Revelation 21:9
The vials of God’s wrath is the recompense to the nations for the treatment they gave together, to the Jewish people, and to the children of the faith.
5which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 2nd. Thessalonians 1:5-7
The development process is as follows. The prophet Zechariah prophesied that at the coming of Jesus to the earth, He will rest on the Mount of Olives, at the very site of His ascension,[3] and just after entering Jerusalem to deliver it, for Jerusalem will have been taken by enemy armies by then,[4] the Mount of Olives will be broken in two making a great valley in its place,
4And 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. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. Zechariah 14:4-5
Jerusalem is the place of the great king and God’s chosen place where the marriage of the lamb will take place. The gospels detail, through parables and isolated teachings, how the Lord chooses those who will participate in the marriage of the lamb. Matthew takes care of presenting these teachings and emphasizes that entrance to weddings is based on the person’s understanding of the value of his or her designation.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Matthew 25:1-13
Matthew presents another parable, according to which although the attendees to it were not originally considered as guests, but were all that the servants found by the roads, and many of them were not prepared to attend an event of such magnitude, it requires a minimum preparation that depends on knowing how to value the consideration they had to open the opportunity to participate in it,
2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come… 11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 22:2-13
The outer darkness, according to this text, represents the condition that the pouring out of the vials of God’s wrath will mean for the whole world.
Revelation 19:9, unlike all other references, adds that the marriage of the lamb includes a “supper” (δειπνον). The text reads: those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb (δειπνον του γαμου του αρνιου). This is consistent with Jesus’ teaching when he encounters Capernaum’s centurion,
11And 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. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 8:11-12
Shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob means a supper, the Hebrew way of showing communion, according to the teaching established by Jesus at the supper prior to the time of his apprehension.
15And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: Luke 22:15
This clearly confirms that the important event within the marriage of the lamb is considered the celebration of the Lord’s supper, just as He celebrated that night with His first disciples.
16for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. Luke 22:16
Thus, the marriage of the lamb includes a Passover supper; this would close the cycle of Revelation initiated by the people of Israel when they inaugurated the first Passover supper, on their way out of Egypt; supper that was later confirmed by Jesus, when He instituted the Lord’s supper, the night He was betrayed.
20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper… 23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 1st. Corinthians 11:20-26
It is important to note that the idea of an angelic-celestial eternal life, in the style of how the Gospel is presented in the West, did not appear within the apostles’ doctrine as a teaching proper to the doctrine of Eternal Life and even Salvation. His teachings always highlighted a century on the face of the earth, characterized mainly by the Messianic reign of Jesus, and Jerusalem as the capital of the Kingdom. Isaiah even presents in his writings a scene of a lion grazing beside a calf,
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6
The main eschatological emphasis of the apostle Paul around the return of Jesus is the beginning of a time of glory for Israel; he even came to believe that he would be alive for the return of Jesus,
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep1st. Thessalonians 4:15
Not that we deny the reality of a future Eternal Angelic-Celestial Life, but that was not the vision that the apostles transmitted in their teachings in the early years of the establishment of communities of faith; so, in order to understand the value of the marriage of the lamb, it is important that we see in the teachings of the Gospels a continuity of human history at the coming of Jesus, where the celebration of the marriage of the lamb in Jerusalem is the beginning of this new stage.
The conception of the marriage of the lamb is indirectly contained in other expressions of Jesus, such as the case of the expression, enter into life,[5] a term that in most cases has been identified with the Eternal Life of heavenly Salvation. The term does not allude to the angelic-celestial life of the Eternal Life as presented in the Christian vision, but to a life under the millennial Lordship of Jesus,
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Matthew 18:8-9
17And 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. Matthew 19:17
Enter into life means the immortality attained in Jesus through the resurrection, and fully manifested in life under the millennial reign of Jesus; this life begins with the marriage of the lamb,
6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Revelation 20:6
The conception of the marriage of the lamb is also indirectly contained in the expression “the world to come“. The term again shows the beginning of Jesus’ millennial reign,
32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Matthew 12:32
This expression is one of the most widely used by evangelists,
30but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Mark 10:30
30who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. Luke 18:30
5and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, Hebrews 6:5
The Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead and the Return of Jesus to Earth establishes that at the return of Jesus, death no longer has jurisdiction over those who rose from the dead, so that, with eternal life does not refer “exclusively” to Heavenly Eternal Life, but to the immortality received by those who have risen in the first resurrection, which for the effects, is the beginning of Eternal Life that at the end of a thousand years has to be manifested as an angelic-celestial life.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1st. Corinthians 15:26
14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14-15
So, it is clear that although the end of the marriage of the lamb is explicitly quoted in the book of Revelation, the concept was established as a teaching of Jesus to His disciples and later integrated by the apostles as the doctrine of Christ, or doctrine of the apostles.[6]
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Hebrews 6:1
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 2nd. John 9
All biblical quotations are taken from the King James Version.
Pastor Pedro Montoya
Twitter: @pastormontoya
https://earthenwarevessels.com
[1] Levítico 20:7
[2] Apocalipsis 15:7; 16:1
[3] Hechos 1:11-12
[4] Zacarias 14:2
[5] Mateo 18:8-9; 19:17; Marcos 9:43-45; 10:30; Lucas 12:5; 18:30
[6] Hechos 2:42
