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The Marriage of the Lamb and the Supper Part 3
Introduction: The marriage is leading
to another step to the end of times. This feast has
been planned From the beginning of time. It is consummation of the
plan of God’s for
His Son arranged before the foundation of the world.
Eph 1:4-10 NIV
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy
and blameless in his sight. In love
5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ,
in accordance with his pleasure and will—
6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us
in the One he loves.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of God's grace
8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his
good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their
fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together
under one head, even Christ.
If you notice how this is phrased it is the Lamb’s marriage Prepared
by God the Father.
Jesus prophetically referred to the marriage in the parable of the
Marriage of the King’s Son
Mat 22:1-14, And it’s consummation
in Rev 19:7-9
Rev 19:7-10 NIV
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: `Blessed are those who are invited
to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added,
"These are the true words of God."
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me,
"Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and
with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
If Christ had not been born in the flesh there could not be such
a marriage. There can not be
a marriage of Difference natures.. The bride is human. Ever
wonder why Christ took
his human nature back to heaven. Today we have a mediator
in heaven the man Jesus Christ.
1 Tim 2:5-6 NIV
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony
given in its proper time.
Even though the Bride for Christ was chosen before the foundation
was laid for the world.
The espousal could not take place till Christ took on his
humanity and ascend into heaven as
the Man Jesus Christ. The betrothal will be the longest on
record.
Not unlike many royal weddings there has alway
been special guest invited. This wedding
will surpass them all. Instead of uniting nations it will unite
Heaven and Earth into a bond
that shall never be broken. Remember it is God that does the joining
together.
The bride is dressed in fine linen, clean
and white; for the righteousness of Saints. Rev 19:7-8
As must be keep in mind the bride is saved by God’s grace. The fine
linen shows the
Righteousnesses of the dear saved saints. They have passed the test
of judgment seat of Christ.
1 Cor 3:11-15.
There has been mention that the Church as the bride
and Christ as the bridegroom is a mystery
As far as the Old Testament. Yes it was a mystery to the writers
of the Old Testament.
The picture of Isaac and Rebekah foreshadow the Church. There
are a number of books in the
Old Testament that show a figure of the church. The Song of Solomon,
Ruth as the redeemer.
Hosea for it's redeeming love.
I. When and where will the marriage take place.
a. After
the judgment of rewards ( judgment seat of Christ). This is not whether
the soul is
saved or lost. The souls at this judgment are the ones that were
call up at the rapture.
This is part A of the second coming. If a person is not saved at this point
they will have to go
Through the seven years of the tribulation. The trouble is that if they
have heard the Gospel
1 Cor 15:1-11; John 3:16 their fate is locked like the fallen angels.
Jude 1:5-7.
b. The wedding is to take place in Heaven.
1 Thess. 4:14 NIV
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep,
or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God
will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still
alive,
who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those
who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command,
with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together
with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be
with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Where the Lord is that is where the believers will be after the rapture.
c. There
will be no one the give the bride away. Again man is left out of the work
and
planning of God’s plan of redemption and ceremonies to celebrate. Christ
presents her to
Himself.
Eph 5:25-27 NIV
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave
himself up for her
26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the
word,
27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or
wrinkle
or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
II. At a wedding there has to be at least two persons present one
is the bridegroom. Who is the groom?
There can only be one answer. Jesus
is spoken as the Lamb. John the Baptist called himself
a friend of the bridegroom
and identified Jesus as the Bridegroom. John
3:29.
Jesus Himself represented
Himself as the Bridegroom. Mat 9:15. The parable
of the
Ten Virgins Jesus states
that He is the Bridegroom. Mat 25:1-10.
Without a doubt
The Bridegroom is Jesus
Christ.
III. On who is the Wife there are some that have a difference of
an opinion.
Because Israel is called the wife and God
calls Himself the Husband of Israel. Isa 54:5.
But Israel is the unfaithful wife. She
is already married no longer a virgin and having been
already married can not be a bride. It
is a virgin that Christ is to marry. One that He Himself has
made ready. Not until Rev
21:9 after the marriage is the bride called the wife. For a clear
understanding The bride started with the
Church on the day of Pentecost.
It includes all of those who
live and die in Christ between Pentecost and the calling out of the
believers ( the church.
)
IV. It is mention that the church made her self ready. The imputed
righteousness of Christ is
not what is at stake
here. If that was at stake the believers would still be in their same
sinful lost stake. The
bride is in Christ which means the believers are saved and kept
saved by the finished
work of Christ. But what is being said here is the righteousnesses
of the Saints.
This is works that made it through the fire. The Works are to
determine the rewards.
1 Cor 3:10-15 NIV
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder,
and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how
he builds.
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid,
which is Jesus Christ.
12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones,
wood, hay or straw,
13 his work will be shown for what it is,
because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire,
and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved,
but only as one escaping through the flames.
That the believer might be found unto praise, honor and
glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:7-12 NIV
7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold,
which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine
and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you
do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible
and glorious joy,
9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that
was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,
11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of
Christ
in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the
glories that would follow.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,
when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those
who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.
Even angels long to look into these things.
V. Now one might ask what is all of this about the marriage Supper?
The Supper
of course is not the marriage. The supper of better yet it could be called
a Feast.
In biblical
time it was a great honor to be invited to such a feast . Some of these
lasted for days.
It will be
such an honor to receive an invitation and to be present that the angel
told John to
write lest
the world never hear about it. Blessed are they that are called to the
supper of
the Lamb.
Rev 19:9 NIV
9 Then the angel said to me, "Write:
`Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'
"
And he added, "These are the true words of God."
Many Governments have Dinners to discuss things
of state, Business have dinners to honor
Emploies For outstanding service. Here in the United States on Thanksgiving
Families
get together over dinner as a time to get together for family time
and thanks to God.
On the Fourth of July some counties or cities have picnics to remember
what our great
country is all about. Will You Be at the Wedding feast? Are you
in the Bride of Christ?
This real serious At this point If you don’t make it here there
is not a second chance.
The Salvation of your soul Is nothing to mess around with.
This same holds truth for your friends. They may get upset with
you here in this world
because if the are lost they will not want to hear the truth. What
are you going to do
when they ask you in the here after why did not you tell me.
Ego is the one thing
that keeps most soul from accepting Christ as their personal saviour.
Ego makes man either
want to add something to God’s finished work. Or their ego wants
to have a part in keeping
themselves saved.
God has strong
words for any one that adds to his word. Adding to the Gospel is the
same as adding to God’s
word.
Rev 22:16-21
16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony
for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David,
and the bright Morning Star."
17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say,
"Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes,
let him take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:
If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues
described in this book.
19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy,
God will take away from him his share in the tree of life
and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
Parts of these verse can be Compared to the 4th Chapter of John .
If you are saved You will never thirst again. If you are saved you can
Have eternal life
this moment.
VI. Next as one notices that there are Guests. At Any wedding their
are always guest.
At the marriage Supper
today many call it a reception . Oh what a fellowship there will
be.
Who
Are the Guests?
Common sense tells us
that it is not the Bride. The Bride would not be called or invited that
the Bride and the Bridegroom
will be the principle ones at the supper.
In the parable of the Ten virgins some hold that they
are not the Bride but merely Bridesmaids
and are simply are guest.
There will be Guest. All of
the dead in Christ shall rise and be present at the
marriage of the Lamb.
John the Baptist stated that he was a friend
of the Bridegroom , the Church at this point in
time had not yet been formed.
The Baptist told of one to follow that would Baptize with
The Holy Ghost and fire. Mat 3:11
The church could not be and was not formed until the Holy
Ghost (the Comforter) was sent.
John the Baptist would not Baptize anyone until they were saved
by a change of mind.
Mat 3:8 KJV Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
[Bible in Basic English] (Matthew 3:8)
Let your change of heart be seen in your works:
Mat 3:8 NIV
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance
Some of the Old Testament Saints will be Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham,
Job, Moses, David , the prophets, and John the Baptist and
many many more.
These will all be guests.
The
righteous of all past ages and Dispensations. All Blood washed Saints who
are worthy
and are not included in the Bride
will be Guest at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Angels
will be present. Some say they can only
be Spectators and not Guest. That honor is reserved
for those who have been redeemed
by the Blood of the Lamb.
Consider
these verses. Rev 5:13
Romans 8:22 KJV For we know that the whole creation groaneth
and travaileth
in pain together until now.
VII. Now that the marriage supper is over what happens now.?
In earthly weddings
after the Supper there is music and dancing, visiting of families,
And old friends.
Then the bride and bridegroom changes into their traveling clothes
for their
honeymoon. They usually settle in their home they have dreamed of.
In many cases
the couple have worked and saved for that dream.
This case
the bride and bridegroom will return to their earthly home. The bridegroom
(Christ)
Having
paid the redemption price for both His bride and the throne of David.
Christ
and his bride will reign for a thousand years. Oh how sweet and wonderful
honeymoon
That
will be.
Remember
that Christ is returning to the place where His people rejected him and
hung him on a
Shameful
Cross expecting Him to bleed to death. They never got the chance to take
His life.
Christ
Gave it.
John 19:30 NIV
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished."
With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Then after the earth has had its Baptism of Fire will the New Jerusalem
descent from
heaven forrever.
Rev 21:1-7 NIV
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven
and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
2 I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully
dressed for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling
of God is with men, and he will live with them.
They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their
God.
4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death
or
mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"
Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty
I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
There are some that have trouble because of tradition of understanding
what
The Lord down over the years in both the Old Testament and New Testament
time was telling them.
In John Chapter 4 the Samaritan women at the
well knew what Jesus was
talking about. By understanding what Jesus was telling her in terms that
she
understood He was the expected one that would take away the sins of the
world.
She accepted Jesus as saviour and was saved . Then she did what everyone
that meets
Jesus personally is supposed to do go tell their friends.
Better yet bring them to meet Him personally.
If is so simple . The plan of Salvation of a persons soul is God’s plan
.
Abraham and Shari though they would help God out. With that help
The whole world is suffering. God provided the true heir of the seed’s
of both
Abraham and Shari as God had promise. It seems that every time man tries
to help
God they mess it up. This is why it is said that God saves to the uttermost.
Heb
7:25
I agree that there are times that we need to step out on Faith. As A matter
of
our Salvation God’s plan is the Greatest.
Jonah 2:8-9 NIV
8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit
the grace that could be theirs.
9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
Salvation comes from the LORD."
This is the old stand by Neither of theses important verses mention any
thing about works.
Baptism or any other church work. Is or is it not all church work, helping
the sick and poor
Are all works of Righteousness.
John 3:16-18 NIV
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe stands condemned already
because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
Here is another stand by The reason the
NIV verses are being used is to show what other
Translations translate the original. The amazing thing is that they
all say the same thing.
The words make it so plain. This is God’s Word His Bible. The Salvation
of man and creation
Is God’s. How can one improve on God? If one thinks that they can.
They need to read the book of Job
Especially chapter 38.
Romans 10:9-13 NIV
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,
and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never
be put to shame."
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—
the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
The Goal with the blessing and power of the Holy Spirit is if you
do not had a personal relationship
With the man Jesus Christ. Your heart will soften to the point that
you see the need for Christ
in your life. If you are saved you will tell a friend what
The Holy Ghost has filled your heart with.
John 14:6-7 NIV
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.
From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
One If the ones that are Saved can know they are saved. In
Heb
4:12 with the Holy Ghost
And the convicting of the word by the Spirit. A person that does
not know for sure
where their soul will spend eternally will never be able to fully
enjoy the fellowship with The Lord.
Do you have problem talking with the Lord? Do you Know where your
soul will spend eternality?
You Can know. How the Bible ( God's Holy Word ) says you can.
1 John 5:10-15 NIV
10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart.
Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar,
because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.
12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God
does not have life.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God
so that you may know that you have eternal
life.
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask
anything according to his will, he hears us.
15 And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask—
we know that we have what we asked of him.
Are
you going to be at the marriage? Are you going to be part of the
Bride?
If you do know pick a friend
or a stranger start praying and then start witnessing to them if nothing
else
with your faith let it
show. One has to accept Salvation by faith and all things become new.
2 Cor 5:17 KJV Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
[Bible in Basic English] (2 Corinthians 5:17)
So if any man is in Christ, he is in a new world: the old things have come
to an end;
they have truly become new.
2 Cor 5:17-21NIV
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting men's sins against them.
And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors,
as though God were making his appeal through us.
We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sinA for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible
NIV
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia
Inc. All Rights Reserved
The reason we
use other translation people are so used to the KJV, It was though that
it would be nice to see that
other translations say the same thing.
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