By our text being in the book of Revelation, there is new information about the coming of the Lord. Since the word marriage is mentioned in the title, it would be wise of us to review the practices related to marriage at the time of Jesus. You may recall some of this information relative to Mary and Joseph when Jesus stepped into humanity.
The potential wife was chosen by the parents as a privilege. She would make the transition from being a member of her father’s home to that of being a member of her husband’s home. This meant a loss of fellowship and the capability for work and supporting the chores and duties in her parents’ home.
A deputy was selected, “the friend of the bridegroom.” (John 3:29) The potential groom and his father along with the deputy visit the home of the bride. Negotiations are made until they reach an agreement after which they all drank a cup of coffee as a seal of the covenant made. We could consider spiritualizing the terms of the agreement and the persons involved but I will leave that up for you to detect. One thing is certain. The ancient bride was chosen by a contract. The church to marry Christ in Revelation have each of its members chosen and accompanied by the Holy Spirit.
A promise of betrothal is reached but like an engagement during modern times it can be broken off. The actual betrothal is a covenant with the signing of a document. (Ezekiel 16: 8 pictures God marrying Jerusalem.) This was followed by a ceremony during which the young man offers some article of value as a token for his intention. At this point the marriage has not occurred. It is likely a whole year until the actual wedding. The wedding includes a procession at night in which the groom approaches his bride, taking her to his house. Music is played to accompany the procession with dancing.
After the wedding is a feast about which our attention has been drawn to this text in the book of Revelation. The marriage supper is a banquet presided by a governor of the feast. He acts as host to the guests and making sure nothing is lacking. He provides thanks at the dinner with benedictions at various times. This is a time of mirth, exalting the bride. Blessings come forth from relatives and friends. It is likely the festivities lasted for a whole week. But even the days of the whole variation is considered thirty.
By this sketchy outline we can make some presumptions about the meaning and activities that occur at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb noted in Revelation. It is a picture of Christ marrying the church. As his bride, the church has arrayed herself in the finest garments and jewelry available. This is the exciting time during the tribulation in which the church is called away from the darkness unfolding under Antichrist. As the original marriage festivities between a man or woman lasted an initial seven days, so will the Marriage Supper of the Lamb last seven years during the tribulation. Both in ancient times and as reported in Revelation, there will be blessings and benedictions offered which indicates to me that is when rewards to believers are disseminated from the divine throne. Whatever does happen will be a time of celebration and jubilance in which the believers making up the church are permanently united with Christ as the bridegroom. What a glorious day that will be when Jesus we shall see.
Christian Writer 