Marriage Supper of the Lamb: The great crescendo of Scripture is the return of Christ. When this Groom and Judge arrives, there will be two suppers, one for a wedding and another for wrath. The former is seen in Jesus’ portrayal of the kingdom of heaven as a wedding feast (Mt. 22:2; 25:10). This fulfills the long awaited prophecy of Scripture of an eschatological banquet for God’s redeemed people.[1] As for the bride, she is the Church of God, the one flock of God, comprised of the redeemed of Israel and the Gentile church,[2] brought together as one for that momentous day. We, in this age, anticipate and purify ourselves for Christ as a bride adorned with fine linen, radiant for her groom.[3]
The Great Supper of God: Christ also returns as Judge.[4] The Lamb slain for all who follow Him (Rev. 14:4; 19:14) will come to slay all who defy Him, treading the wine press of the wrath of God (Rev. 19:15). He will punish all at war with God at Armageddon. This military conflict is astonishing, yet it is only the unveiling of the perennial inner conflict: the hostility toward God in the human heart.[5] On that day, men will take up arms to defend their false claim to rule a territory not their own, for the earth belongs to the LORD and all it contains (Ps. 24:1). One day, “the Ruler of the kings of the earth” will return to His rightful domain and strike down the rebels and feed their flesh to the vultures (cf. Matt. 24:28). All on earth will dine at the wedding or die in the battle. The hostile at heart war against the King. Saints prepare for their union with Him.
[1] For marriage,
cf. Isaiah 54:5; 62:4-5; Ezek. 16:8; Hosea 2:19-20. For feast, cf. Is. 25:6-9; 55:1-2;
Jer. 31:12.
[2] For the church
as the bride of Christ, cf. Eph. 5:25-27; 2 Cor. 11:2. In terms of the one flock,
Jesus said it (John 10:16; 11:52), Paul affirmed it (Eph. 2:11-20), and the New
Jerusalem will signify it (Rev. 21:12-14).
[3] For anticipation, cf. Tit. 2:13; Phil. 3:20. For preparation, cf. Rev. 19:7-8; 1 Pet. 4:7; 1 John 2:28; 3:2-3.
[4] For Jesus’ position as Judge, cf. Matt. 16:27; 25:31-32; John 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 2 Tim. 4:1.
[5] For man’s hostility toward God, cf. Rom. 5:10; 8:7; Col. 1:21; James 4:4.