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The Marriage Supper
In this study we are going to look at the marriage
supper and the time in which it will happen. Many
believe this event happens just after the "rapture". We
contend it happens just after Armageddon and the return
of Jesus. If we can determine at what time the marriage
supper takes place, we can either prove or disprove this
portion of the rapture doctrine. Our only hope is to get
to the truth of the matter. We can read about
the marriage supper in Revelation chapter 19.
Revelation Chapter 19
1) And after these things
I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying,
Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power,
unto the Lord our God:
2) For true and righteous
are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore,
which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and
hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
We should note the time here and the events that have
just transpired.
The Lord has just judged Mystery Babylon, the great whore
which had reign over the kings of the earth. This event
leads up to the marriage supper, as we will read later.
It's important that we understand when this happens.
Let's now go to chapter 16 which sets the time for the
fall of Babylon.
Revelation 16
17) And the seventh angel poured out his vial into
the air; and there came a great voice out of the
temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18) And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there
was a great earthquake, such as was not since ° men were upon the earth,
so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19) And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities
of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God,
to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
From these verses, we now know that Babylon falls at
the seventh vial, just to be thorough let's look at the
first few verses of chapter 18 so we know without a
doubt, the city has fallen.
Revelation 18
1) And after these things I saw
another angel come down from heaven, having great power;
and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2) And he cried mightily
with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is
fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of
devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of
every unclean and hateful bird.
What we have just covered sets up chapter 19. We can
be confident that what we will read next is after the
seventh vial.
Revelation 19
5) And a voice came out
of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his
servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
6) And I heard as it were
the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many
waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,
Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7) Let us be glad and
rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the
Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8) And to her was granted
that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and
white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of
saints.
9) And he saith unto me,
Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the
marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These
are the true sayings of God.
These scriptures give us a clear picture of when the
marriage supper takes place. In verse 7, we learn that
the marriage supper is come, just so we are clear, it
hasn't taken place yet, but the time has come for it to
begin. We also learn that the wife has made herself
ready, and we are told in verse 8, she has done this by her
righteousness. She has not worshipped the
beast or taken his mark. This is why the wedding apparel
is granted to her, and this is how she has made herself
ready. Her loyalty to God has proven her worthiness.
11) And I saw heaven
opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon
him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness
he doth judge and make war.
12) His eyes were as a
flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he
had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13) And he was clothed
with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called
The Word of God.
Now we are reading about the return of Christ, not
for rapture, but to make war, to reign. The reason the
time has now come for the marriage is because the groom
(Christ) is on His way.
14) And the armies which
were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed
in fine linen, white and clean.
I know many want to tell you, you are part of this
army. These are the people who have passed on before us.
Your grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. Remember in 1
Thessalonians we were told that we shouldn't worry about
those who have passed on before us, because God will
bring them with Him. These are those people.
1 Thessalonians 4
13) But I would not have
you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no
hope.
14) For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15) For this we say unto
you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and
remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
them which are asleep.
Just to review quickly, Babylon has fallen, which means the seventh
vial has been poured out, the marriage supper has come, meaning it's
about to begin, and Christ is returning with His armies, clothed in fine
linen.
Revelation 19
17) And I saw an angel
standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice,
saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven,
Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of
the great God;
18) That ye may eat the
flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh
of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that
sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and
bond, both small and great.
Here we see the marriage supper come to fruition. It
is called such because it is the reunion of Christ, and
those saints who have passed on , with those who are alive
and remain on the earth, (the marriage). As well as the
great supper of God, where the fowls of the air eat the
flesh of every man, (the supper).
All of these events happen at or after the seventh vial. If you're
belief states that the marriage happens before then, then there is a
problem, and as we will see in the next verse, there's no time for a
rapture at the seventh vial, it's over.
Revelation 16
17) And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there
came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying,
It is done.
I urge you take the time to find out what your doctrine has to say
about these things. We are not doing anything more than presenting the
scriptures in context and within the correct scope of time. There are no
white robes presented until the bride makes herself ready, she does not
do this until the end. Therefore there can be no marriage until the end,
that is until the groom (Christ), returns.
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