Free Bible Commentary
“Revelation 19:7-10”
Categories: Revelation“‘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.’ 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. 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.’ Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’”
---End of Scripture verses---
In stark contrast to the judgment of the wicked harlot (Rome), today we see the glory of the “bride” of Christ (His church). “His bride has made herself ready” in preparation for the great day of “the marriage of the Lamb” (verse 7). It may seem strange to us that the “marriage ceremony” of Jesus and His church is still yet to come when she is delivered up to Him at the end of the age, but as Robert Harkrider wrote: “The one who was espoused (betrothed) was considered to be the bride of the groom even before the marriage supper (Deut. 22:23-24)…(Matt. 1:18, 20)… The church is currently ‘espoused’ (betrothed) unto the Lord (2 Cor. 11:2); therefore its relationship to Christ is that of a wife (Eph. 5:22-33; Rom. 7:4).
“The marriage supper” (verse 9) was an immensely important aspect of a wedding ceremony in the time and place that Jesus lived. To refuse to attend or to wear appropriate clothing to the event was considered a great insult to the wedding party. In the Parable of the Great Wedding Feast in Matthew 22:1-14, the king was greatly offended when those who had been invited to the feast refused to attend, and when one of the guests was found wearing improper attire. The members of Christ’s bride must be properly adorned in obedience to the word and “in the righteous acts of the saints” (verse 8) lest they be cast into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for all eternity (Matthew 22:13).
Christ “gave Himself up for” His church/bride “so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:26-27) To be properly espoused to the Lord we must be washed in the waters of baptism (Revelation 1:5), and live “holy and blameless” lives before Him in all righteousness and reverence for His own holiness.
Robert Harkrider wrote: “Christ paid the dowry for the church; He has bought his bride with His own blood (Eph. 5:25; Acts 20:28). The actual occasion of the perfect union with Christ, the complete and final blessed consummation of the church with Christ, is reserved until after the final judgment day. This great union is described in chapters 21 and 22. During the betrothal period the bride must make herself ready by arraying herself in righteous apparel.” “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (verse 9) at the consummation of the ages. They will be the ones clothed in the “fine linen, bright and clean” that are washed in the blood of the Lamb.
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him” (verse 7)!!! Those who are espoused to Christ in a privileged covenant arrangement have much to take delight in and be exceedingly happy about! Even in the face of persecution and tribulation. It is interesting to note, but probably not coincidental, that the only other time this phrase is used in the New Testament was by the Lord in His Beatitudes: “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
“Worship God” (verse 10) and God alone! Sing praises of thanksgiving to Him for His unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)! Worthy is the Lord of all our undivided love, devotion, praise and appreciation!
Please read Revelation 19:11-16 for tomorrow.
Have a wonderful day!
-Louie Taylor
