The Marriage Supper Series

I. The Fact of the Marriage

1. The most fantastic and wonderful wedding of all time is yet to take place.

a. This marriage described in the parable of Jesus.

1) Luke 12:35-36

2) Matthew 22:2-5; kingdom of Heaven

3) Matthew 25:1-13

b. This marriage is described through the vision of John.

2. Revelation 19:7-8

II. The Host of the Marriage

1. The Father is the divine host.

2. Luke 14:16-23

III. The Bridegroom of the Marriage

1. The Fathers beloved Son. Matthew 3:17; 17:5

2. John the Baptist. John 3:27-30

3. Our Lord Jesus. Luke 5:32-35

IV. The Bride of the Marriage

1. Ephesians 5:22-32

V. The Guests of the Marriage

1. Revelation 19:9

2. In general: a group which would include all believing gentiles who were converted prior to Pentecost or after the rapture.

3. In particular: a group which would include all saved Israelites everywhere.

a. The ten virgins in Matthew 25 were Israelites.

b. The five represent saved Israelites.

c. The other five represent unsaved.

d. They can not represent the church, for the church is the bride, inside with the bridegroom.

e. The virgins are guest who have been invited to the wedding.

f. Note: that a bride is never invited to her own wedding. If she refuses to come, there is no wedding.

VI. The Service Schedule of the Marriage

1. The marriage of Christ to the church will follow the oriental pattern of marriage, as in the New Testament.

2. The Betrothal Stage

a. Promise stage.

1) New Testament marriage often began when the couple were very young by the groom’s father.

2) The father would then offer the proper dowry payment.

3) Example: Mary and Joseph. Matthew 1:18

b. Promise stage consists of two steps.

1) The selection of the bride.

2) The payment of the dowry.

c. Now look at the marriage of the Lamb.

1) The bride has been selected. Ephesians 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 11:2

2) The dowry has been paid. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:18-19

3. The Presentation Stage

a. At the proper time the father would send for the bride.

b. The servants would show the proper legal contract.

c. The bride would be taken to her new home.

d. The bride or church still waits for the call. Ephesians 5:25-27; Jude 24; Revelation 19:7-8

1) The heavenly Father will send for the bride. Revelation 4:1

2) The bride will be taken to the father’s home. John 14:2-3

4. The Celebration Stage

a. After a private marriage service was over the public marriage supper will begin.

b. Matthew 22:2-3; Luke 14:16-17; Luke 12:35-37

VII. The Time of the Marriage

1. It seems that the wedding service conducted in Heaven, perhaps shortly after the Bema Judgement Seat of Christ.

2. The wedding supper, the celebration, stage, will be publicly conducted on earth shortly after the second coming of Christ.

3. The millennium occurs right after the celebration supper has begun.

a. Supper in Revelation 19

b. Millennium in Revelation 20

4. In the New Testament, the length and cost of this supper was determined by the wealth of the father.

5. God the Father will give his Son a celebration that will last 1,000 years.

VIII. The Certainty of the Marriage

1. There are many problems in an earthly marriage.

2. Not so with Christ.

a. Ephesians 5:25

b. Revelation 10:14

3. Neither groom nor bride will die.

a. John 11:26

b. Revelation 1:18