Question
Can you tell me about the sequence of things in Rev 19ff, especially the “marriage supper of the Lamb,” etc.
Response
My understanding is that the “marriage supper” issue/wife/bride is the fulfillment of Isaiah 62:4-5 and other passages describing the living union marriage relationship that God has purposed to have with Israel in their land. The marriage itself is the joining together that takes place when the Lord returns to His people and to His land at the end of His day. (Which is what John is seeing the beginning of in Rev 19. The wife is ready, the decking is underway (Isa 61:10), the Lord is mounted and ready to return to end the “Forsaken” and “Desolate” status of the land, and the announcement of the marriage is set to go out.) The marriage takes place when the Lord returns, vanquishes Israel’s and His enemies (the beast, his armies, and Satan), purifies the land, and brings the heavenly Jerusalem down and joins it to the land. (The living union relationship of marriage is then established.) The “marriage supper” is the rejoicing celebration of the marriage in fulfillment of Isa 62:5. The nations are called to the celebration and bring their gifts of celebration, as described in Isa 60-62 and as seen by John in Rev 21.
That’s my understanding in a nutshell. As I’ve indicated to you before, I believe the heavenly
Jerusalem is here on the earth as the kingdom, along with the creation of new heavens and earth. This, therefore, meaning that Rev 21-22 is describing the kingdom, and not after the 1000 years. Rev 21-22 is ‘looping-parallelism’ providing details for what has just been given in scope in Rev 20.
As far as I’m concerned, the key to appreciating the marriage terminology is in the issue of knowing the passages in the law and prophets describing God’s relationship to Israel and the land, Isa 62 being just one of them. I believe the sequence of Rev 19-22 is set forth there, as I’ve briefly indicated.
Keith Blades
Enjoy The Bible Ministries
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