Is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb addressed elsewhere in Scripture?

We are presently living in the “already, but not yet” [1] of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (MSL). In Isa. 25 we observe its prophecy, in the Lord’s Supper its inauguration and image, and in Rev. 19:7-9 its complete manifestation. In the inauguration of the kingdom of God, Christ defeated all the demonic rulers and authorities at the cross (Col. 2:15), in the continuation of the kingdom of God the church celebrates Christ’s victory in the Lord’s Supper, and at the last day the church will observe the consummation of the kingdom of God and celebrate the MSL.

What is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb?

In Rev. 19:6-9, John both saw and heard in a vision the multitudes praising God because the wedding feast [marriage supper] of the Lamb was about to begin. What was a “marriage supper” in Jesus’ time?

To understand the concept of the “marriage supper” more fully we must also briefly understand the wedding customs in the time of Jesus. A marriage had three phases:

(1) A marriage [covenant] contract was signed by the parents of the bride and the bridegroom’s parents. The parents of the bridegroom (or the bridegroom himself) would pay a dowry to the bride and the bride’s parents. This began the betrothal period, or in today’s terms what is commonly referred to as an “engagement.” Though sexual relations were not allowed during a couple’s engagement the terms “husband” and “wife” were used during this same period. This is the state that both Joseph and Mary were in when Mary was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18; Luke 2:5).

(2) The engagement normally lasted around a year or so. One day (or night) the bridegroom, accompanied by his male friends, would go to the bride’s home. The bride and her maidens, knowing in advance that the groom would be coming 'sometime' prepared themselves. When the bridegroom arrived all would join in a joyous parade which ended up at the bridegroom’s home. (please see, the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matt. 25:1-13).

(3) The marriage supper itself was celebrated at the bridegroom’s home. This feast could go on for days, as demonstrated by the wedding feast at Cana in John 2:1-2.

In Rev. 19:7-10 we observe the wedding feast of the Lamb [Jesus Christ, John 1:29, 36] and his Bride [the believing church, Eph. 5:25-33; 2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7-9; 21:1-2]. The first phase of marriage prenups were completed when each individual believer was enabled by the grace of God alone (Eph. 2:8-10) to place their faith in Christ as both their Lord and Savior (John 3:1-8; Rom. 10:9-10). The dowry paid by the bridegroom’s parent [God the Father] was the blood of Christ shed on the Bride’s [invisible church’s [2]] behalf.

The “invisible” [2] Church today is “betrothed” to Christ. Similar to the wise virgins in the parable above, all believers should be watching and waiting (cf. 2 Pet. 3:8-18) for the appearance of the Bridegroom at his Second Coming. The marriage supper follows.

Now let’s look at the MSL from the three following perspectives:

The Prophecy of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb

The MSL looks back to Isaiah’s hymn (Isa. 25:6-9) where God promised to provide a rich banquet (Isa. 25:6; cf. Rev. 19:6) for “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and language” (Rev. 7:9: cf. Isa. 25:6) and to swallow up death forever (Isa. 25:9; cf. 1 Cor. 15:54).

Lets’ briefly look at the text of Isa. 25:6-9 and compare it to the last days:

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples [Rev. 19:6] a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow [nourishment], of aged wine well refined [Rev. 19:7]. And he will swallow up on this mountain [1 Cor. 15:54] the covering that is cast over all peoples [2 Cor. 3:12-18], the veil that is spread over all nations [2 Cor. 3:12-18]. He will swallow up death forever [1 Cor. 15:54]; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces [Rev. 21:4], and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth [Luke 1:25], for the Lord has spoken [Rev. 19:10].

Clearly, Isa. 25 is referring to the last days and the MSL.

The Inauguration and Image of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb

The Lord’s Supper [3] is the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine (1 Cor. 11:23-34). It symbolizes Christ’s broken body and poured out blood at Calvary and his victory over the demonic realm.

As a sacrament the Lord’s Supper recalls a past event; the death of Jesus for the sake of his elect. However, this feast not only looks back to the past, but also looks toward the future of the MSL when the Lord returns. At the last day when the consummation of the kingdom arrives in its fullness Jesus will once again partake of the vine (Matt. 26:29; John 22:18).

Christ inaugurated the kingdom of God in his first coming in his death and resurrection. Jesus is presently the King reigning over his kingdom. So the kingdom of God is already here (cf. Matt. 12:28; Luke 17:20-21). However, the kingdom that Christ’s church is already a part of is still partially veiled. Its complete unveiling will happen at the last day.

This is one reason why Christians may honestly and bravely celebrate the elements of the Lord’s Supper.

The Consummation of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Having already inaugurated the kingdom of God, it is revealed to the church early in the book of Revelation that Jesus has already won the victory over sin, death, and the grave (Rev. 1:4-8; cf. 1 Cor. 15:55-58). Latter in the book we observe Christ’s victories over all his enemies elaborated upon (Rev. 5:1-5; 12:1-10; cf. Col. 2:15). The enemy has already been crushed; it’s as good as done. The final glory of Christ’s reign is an absolute certainty, even while his Bride, the church, is awaiting the final consummation of the kingdom of God at the last day. This is why Paul could exclaim in Rom. 8:35-39,

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

While the church still lives in the “already, but not yet” of the kingdom of God, there “is” a day when every knee will bend to the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:9-11; Rom. 14:11). All Christ's enemies will be under his feet (1 Cor. 15:27-28). On that day, those whom Jesus has purchased with his own sacrifice will be presented to him as a spotless Bride (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:27; Rev. 19:7). Those who are not “in Christ” will be cast aside into the eternal torments of Hell itself (Rev. 20:11-25).

This glorious day to come will be celebrated at the MSL (Rev. 19:6-9), as foreshadowed by the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-34). This sacrament is a “sign and seal”[4] confirming God’s promise that the Day is indeed coming.

The church adorned in fine white linen (Isa. 61:10; Rev. 3:4-5; 19:8, 14), is united to Christ in a glorious celebration (Rev. 19:7-8). The church is the exact opposite of the great prostitute of Babylon, who is impure and opposes everything good and holy (Rev. 17). The church’s fine white linen represent her good works of service to her Lord / Husband (Rev. 19:8). Of course, the church did not make herself worthy by her deeds, for Christ gave these deeds to her (Eph. 2:8-10; cf. Tit. 3:5) in their new birth (2 Cor. 5:17).

Footnotes

[1] The kingdom of God is divided into three divisions; (1) its “inauguration” when Christ was crucified and resurrected from the dead, (2) its “continuation” in Christ’s church by fulfilling the scripture by both word and dead, and (3) its final “consummation” at the Last Day when the Lord returns.

The “already, but not yet” is the biblical understanding holding that believers are “already” actively partaking in the kingdom of God, but noting the fact that the kingdom will not reach its full expression / manifestation until sometime in the future at its consummation. The true church is “already” in the kingdom of God, but it does “not yet” see its full glory (cf. 1 Cor. 13:12).

[2] Dr. Mark Strauss. “The Invisible Church” (https://reformedanswers.org/answer.asp/file/47858/ft/m). Last Accessed 29 Oct. 2024.

[3] The Lord’s Supper (LS) is typified by many texts in the Old Testament. Here are a few:

In Gen. 4, we observe that Cain was jealous of Abel's offering to the Lord. Cain murdered his brother Abel. In Gen. 4:10, the Lord said to Cain, “The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground”. Heb. 12:24 teaches us that Abel's blood cried out for grace, not judgment. This typifies Christ whose blood cried out even more graciously for all his people at the cross and which is celebrated by Lord's Supper.

In Gen. 14:18, we observe Melchizedek—the King of Salem (meaning peace), the king of Righteousness, the priest of the Most High God, who has no beginning or end (Heb. 7:1-3)—bring Abraham bread and wine. Why? To celebrate Abraham's victory over the enemy, which typifies Christ’s victory over his enemies celebrated in the Lord's Supper. Notice that Melchizedek resembled the Son of God and he continues a priest forever.

Moses, a priest, while upon Mount Sinai read the Torah before a great congregation. After he read the Word of God he threw the blood of sacrificed of an oxen upon them; "And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words” (Exod. 24:8). Later, at the Last Supper, we observe a continuation of the old covenant within the new, when Jesus concludes, "for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many [his elect alone] for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:28).

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai the glory of the Lord shined upon his face (Exod. 34:29). The glory of the Lord was so radiant that as he walked into the Israelite camp he was asked to cover his face. So, Moses covered his face with a veil. In a similar way a thin veil covers God's glory every time the Lord's Supper is celebrated. The full glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, won’t be fully seen until the last day (1 Cor. 13:12).

The Passover Meal (or Seder) in Exod. 12 typifies the Lord's Supper. The Passover is a sacrifice that commemorates Israel's deliverance from Egypt, and the Lord's Supper signifies the Christian’s freedom from all Christ’s enemies through his broken body and spilt blood.

[4] In the U.S. it is common to see McDonald's signs along interstate; the Golden Arches. In my younger days we stopped at McDonald's for a quick meal, but we never ate "at" or "in" the sign. We ate inside the restaurant itself. The sign pointed to something greater than itself—the restaurant where there was food. In a similar way the Lord’s Supper is a sign, pointing to something far greater than itself; both the death and resurrection of Jesus and the consummation of the kingdom of God where the church celebrates the MSL.