There are several reasons why I study prophecy, but this is one of my favorites! The thought of future celebration gives me pure joy!
The Wedding Supper is the grand event. It will likely (yes, I know there's some debate on its timing, which is why I chose to use the word "likely" to express my own personal opinion on the matter) occur immediately after the final Bowl of Wrath is poured when the saints of God are permitted to enter the sanctuary (REVELATION 15:8).
Following the Wedding Banquet, Jesus Christ will mount His white horse (REVELATION 19:11) and descend upon the Earth with all of His saints (ZECHARIAH 14:3; REVELATION 17:14).
If there is anything at all in the Christian life that should motivate us to live out our faith with perseverance, zeal, and excitement, it is the anticipation of this monumental event! Jesus was serving the Last Supper with His disciples when He made this statement:
MATTHEW 26:29 -- "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
I believe the Lord's taste buds are tingling with anticipation for this celebration. Let us take a moment to remember what Jesus taught us concerning a wedding banquet and how it relates to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.
MATTHEW 22:1-14 -- "1" Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, "2 The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. "3 And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. "4 Again he sent out other slaves saying, 'Tell those who have been invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast."' "5 But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, "6" and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. "7 But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. "8 Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. "9" 'Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there,invite to the wedding feast.' "10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests. "11 But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, "12" and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless. "13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "14 For many are called, but few are chosen."
REVELATION 19:1-9 -- "1" After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; "2" BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER. 3" And a second time they said, "Hallelujah! HER SMOKE RISES UP FOREVER AND EVER. 4" And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, "Amen. Hallelujah! 5" And a voice came from the throne, saying,"Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great. 6" Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. "7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. 8" It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. "9" Then he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God."
Please join me in concluding this entry with a short prayer:
Thank You, Lord! We are eternally grateful that You have redeemed all of Your chosen children. As a bride prepares for her wedding day with excitement and anticipation, so we ask Your Holy Spirit to fill us with desire and to help us prepare ourselves with exuberance. Please finish Your work in us that we may be suitably dressed for such a grand occasion. Amen.
(SOURCE: *AUTHOR OF A BOOK I'M READING, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TIP MY HAND AND REVEAL THE CONTENT OF HIS WORK OR HIS FINDINGS JUST YET. SOON!)
