Marriage of the Lamb

By Paul Benware, Th.M., Th.D.
Professor, Theology and Bible, Philadelphia College of Bible, Langhorne, Pennsylvania

The “marriage of the Lamb,” Revelation 19.7, is a phrase beautifully describing the final and complete union of Jesus Christ and true believers. It communicates an intimacy of relationship between Christ and believers and will never be compromised nor broken. From the time of the marriage onward, the Bride and Christ are inseparable.

The phrase is built on the imagery of marriage used by both Old and New Testament writers to communicate something of God’s relationship with those who are His people. Weddings were used by Jesus in His teaching about spiritual relationships, Matthew 22.2-14 and 25.1-13, and Christ is viewed on several occasions as the Bridegroom, Matthew 9.15; Mark 2.19,20; John 3.29.

The apostle Paul spoke of the Church’s relationship with Christ as a Bride, Ephesians 5.23-27, and declared He had betrothed the Church to her one and only heavenly Husband, Jesus Christ: 2 Corinthians 11.1-3. At the marriage of the Lamb, the days of temptation and the struggle with sin are over and the Bride is presented to Christ in total and complete purity.

Revelation 19 places the marriage of the Lamb in Heaven. The chapter records the joyful celebration over the judgment of the great harlot and the vindication of God and His people. The marriage of the Lamb, Revelation 19.7-9, takes place immediately before the Second Coming of Christ to earth, Revelation 19.11-16.

It is best to identify the Bride as the true Church of Jesus Christ. The Church is clearly so identified in the New Testament: Ephesians 5.23 and following, plus 2 Corinthians 11.1-3. When the marriage takes place, the Bride is seen as resurrected and rewarded, a situation which would mean the Bride has been raptured and rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

But this view of the Bride would seem to exclude saints from the Old Testament and Tribulation periods since they are raised and rewarded in connection with the Second Coming. However, it is possible the Bride might grow to include other redeemed people in the days of the Kingdom, Revelation 21.1-3,10-14.

An emphasis is placed on the beautiful garments of the Bride, Revelation 19.8, which are a brilliant white, representing her glory and purity. Specifically, the garments are said to be her righteous deeds, the result of human effort as she labored for Christ in the contrary circumstances of a sin-cursed world. Yet, the garments are said to be given to her, Revelation 19.8, which reveals that ultimately, her righteous acts are the result of God’s gracious working in and through her. Thus, she is rewarded and God receives great glory.

As is the case in most of our weddings, a distinction should be made between the marriage and the marriage supper. The marriage which unites is followed by a time of celebration of that uniting: Revelation 19.7,9. The marriage takes place in Heaven, but the feast takes place on earth. This great wedding feast is the picture of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ and perhaps the eternal Kingdom which follows. It is a picture of the great joy which will permeate the reign of the Lord Jesus over all the redeemed of all ages.