Lesson Nine
The Marriage of the Lamb

•	Text: Revelation 19:1-14.
•	Importance Of The Marriage:
•	The importance of the marriage of the Lamb may be understood when we remember that it was ordained before the foundation of the world. 
•	This great event was planned in the heart of God back in the ages of eternity. 
•	The apostle Paul makes this clear when he stated that the church was chosen before the foundation of the world. 
•	"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world..." (Ephesians 1:4).
•	This great event is the crowning climax to the eternal purpose of God. 
•	The purpose of God in planning the incarnation, atonement and resurrection was that He might present to Himself a glorious church that is His sweetheart, His bride. 
•	All the events and truths of the Bible point forward and lead up to this beautiful, breath taking scene.
•	The Hallelujah Chorus: (Revelation 19:1-6).
•	A wedding is a time of rejoicing. 
•	Such is the scene pictured here in chapter "Let nineteen. us be glad and rejoice" (Verse 7).
•	The scene is a heavenly one.
•	 The four and twenty elders, the four living creatures and all the heavenly hosts lift their voices in praise, and sing the Hallelujah chorus.
•	The word "Hallelujah" comes from a Hebrew word meaning, "Praise ye Jehovah."
•	 It occurs 24 times in the Old Testament and is always translated "Praise ye the Lord." 
•	It only occurs four times in the New Testament and is found here in Revelation 19. 
•	It is the cry of victory over the enemies of the Lord and gives praise to the Lord.
•	This scene of rejoicing is seen after the destruction of political and ecclesiastical Babylon. 
•	The harlot church has been judged.
•	 The saints had suffered and been martyred by her. 
•	Now they could rejoice for righteous and just were the judgments of God.
•	The second cause for the rejoicing was that "The Lord reigneth. "
•	The saints had been praying for centuries "Thy Kingdom come." 
•	Now their prayers were answered. 
•	The Kingdom of God had come and the Lord was on His throne reigning. 
•	It should be noted that as in chapter four there is only ONE throne and only ONE upon the throne. 
•	The same ONE who was on the throne is chapter four is still on the throne. 
•	This is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. 
•	He is the one who is reigning and the Hallelujah chorus is lifting up the anthems of praise to Him.
•	The third reason for the Hallelujah chorus is stated in verse seven. "The marriage of the Lamb is come."
•	The glorious event that the events of all ages were looking forward to had now come. 
•	This was the crowning climax of God's eternal plan and it was time for all Heaven to be glad and rejoice.
•	The Marriage Of The Lamb: 
•	We shall study the marriage by asking and answering seven questions:
•	1. Who Is The Bridegroom?
•	The Lamb is the bridegroom. This is stated in verse seven: "the marriage of the lamb is come."
•	2. Who Is The Bride?
•	In reply to this question we go back to chapters two and three, to the letter to the church, and then to verse one of chapter four where the church is caught away. 
•	The bride is certainly the blood bought, blood washed, Spirit-filled church that bears the Name of Jesus. 
•	Paul identified her in his letter to the Ephesian church. "That he might present it to himself a glorious church" (Ephesians 5:27). 
•	"This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church" (Ephesians 5:32).
•	3. Who Are The Guests?
•	The guests are the Old Testament saints and the Tribulation saints. 
•	Certainly John the Baptist will be one of the guests. 
•	He is the friend of the Bridegroom. 
•	".. But the friend of the bridegroom .. this my joy therefore is fulfilled" (John 3:29).
•	Also the patriarchs will be there seated at the marriage supper. 
•	".. When ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God.." (Luke 13:28).
•	4. Where Does The Marriage Take Place?
•	Undoubtedly the marriage will take place in New Jerusalem, the city foursquare. 
•	This is the place of many mansions which Jesus is preparing for His bride (John 14:2).
•	When the church is raptured she is brought into the presence of God before His throne. 
•	There she receives the rewards handed out at the judgment seat of Christ.
•	Certainly as we can see in chapter thirteen, the wedding takes place in Heaven, not upon earth.
•	5. When Will The Marriage Take Place?
•	After the church is raptured while the Tribulation is upon earth, she will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. 
•	"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.." (II Corinthians 5:10).
•	Here she will receive her rewards for the deeds done in the body. 
•	All the saints will be judged for their works of righteousness. 
•	This is a preparatory part in making herself ready.
•	The marriage will take place just before Christ returns to earth to reign in His millennial Kingdom.
•	6. How Did The Bride Make Herself Ready?
•	When we are saved the righteousness of God is imputed and imparted to us. 
•	Here, while upon earth, we are clothed in His righteousness. 
•	However, at the marriage of the Lamb she will be clothed in the righteous acts and deeds of saints. 
•	The word "righteousness" here means "righteous acts." 
•	The Greek text shows that the fine linen is her righteous acts performed by living a holy life.
•	      7. What Is Her Wedding Dress? 
•	Her wedding dress is described as being fine linen, clean and white. 
•	It is clearly stated that this fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 
•	".. And his wife hath made herself ready" (Revelation 19:7). 
•	The preparatory work of getting ready for the wedding goes on continually from the moment the Christian is born again. 
•	A faithful life of prayer, worship, church attendance, Bible study and dedication has an important place in this getting ready.
•	 The church cleanses herself from all filthiness of the flesh and perfects holiness. 
•	"... Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (II Corinthians 7:1). 
•	The Marriage Supper:
•	The marriage super takes place after the wedding. 
•	This will such be a joyful occasion of feasting upon spiritual and eternal food, heavenly manna that the angel told John to write. 
•	He wanted it written down so that it would be recorded. 
•	"Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage super of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9).
•	All guests are invited guests. 
•	They are blessed to be invited to such a happy and wonderful event.
•	 It will be a great privilege to be present and to rejoice with the bridegroom and bride.
•	There is another supper described in this chapter and what a contrast it is. 
•	This is a supper of fearful judgment when the vultures devour the flesh of the enemies of God. 
•	The fact that it is mentioned here only emphasizes the great joy and blessing of the marriage supper of the Lamb.
•	Who Gets The Glory?
•	Scriptural Reference: "Let us... give honour to him" (Revelation 19:7).
•	The bride is the one who attracts the most attention at all weddings. 
•	She is dressed in her white wedding garment and is gorgeous to behold. 
•	When she enters the wedding all the guests stand and gasp in amazement when they see her in all of her gorgeous beauty.
•	However, who gets the glory?
•	 It is actually not the bride. 
•	She has adorned herself, and spent months to make herself lovely for this occasion when she gives herself to her lover. 
•	Why is she attired in such beauty? 
•	It is that she might please the bridegroom. 
•	All the pageantry is there to give honor to the groom who receives his beautiful bride.
•	Such it is in eternity. 
•	The bride was chosen to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:12). 
•	At the marriage of the Lamb His bride will be beautiful beyond what words can describe but the center of attention will be the Lamb. 

Lesson Nine
Self Help Test

A.	Who is the bride?
B.	Who is the bridegroom?
C.	Who are the guests?
D.	Who gets the glory?
E.	Describe the bride's wedding dress.
F.	What is the meaning of the word "Hallelujah?"
G.	Explain fully why there is such rejoicing in Heaven at this time.