the wedding between the bride and groom
Member
There's a tv guy I've listened to named Irvin Baxter Jr who's use of scripture has convinced me that rapture and wedding supper happens near end of 7, just before Jesus' foot touches this planet/earth again, effectively ending the battle of Armageddon and the final or third world war. He'll sell you his product/dvds.
Loyal
I would say after the millennial reign. When the new Jerusalem comes down.
Rev 19:7; "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."
Rev 21:2; And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:9; Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
Rev 22:17; The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
Rev 19:7; "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."
Rev 21:2; And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:9; Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
Rev 22:17; The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
Active
I am inclined at this time to believe the marriage takes place in Heaven toward the end of the Tribulation period on earth. (Rev. 19:1-7). But the marriage supper, which I believe is later, takes place on the earth sometime after the Tribulation and around the beginning of the Millennium. (Rev. 19:9)
Quantrill
Loyal
Whenever it is, the best plan is to be properly prepared so as to be there with Him at that time.
"My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her." Song of Solomon 6:9
"My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her." Song of Solomon 6:9
Active
Has anyone else noticed that the apostles didn't get around to mentioning the Bride, bridegroom, a wedding, or wedding feast? Paul discussed marriage between a man and a woman. John the Baptist and Jesus used the Jewish wedding example all Jews were familiar with, which is quite a spectacle even now among orthodox Jews, as a simili, an event like the wonder and excitement of a celebration of saints gathered for occupying the promised city. The event will possibly include a literal feast, but more in line with a biblical Jewish feast of Tabernacles, celebrating the future event of the Lord having our shelter for us in Heaven. John in Revelation identified The Bride is a physical structure, also called the "Lamb's wife", which is not a woman, but the main feature is the population of the holy city Heaven (Eze 37:26), described with dimensions of a cube 1500 miles wide, high and length. When all possible citizens are there at once, no doubt there will be a celebration, a heavenly house-warming. That couldn't happen before or during the tribulation since there will be 144,000 young Jews reserved to serve the Lord, joining the rest of the Bride population. It couldn't be that the celebration would leave them out, as they will arrive holding their heads severed by the antichrist. Since there are some saved during the last days of the tribulation, the event would have to be at the end of it, before Jesus leads that army to earth at the end of it. It's a bit late to go check out the accuracy of that, so I;ll leave it there for someone to pick on. I fully realize this comment could ignite a firestorm of criticism, but the challenge to deal with is the word of God without unfounded embellishment.
Active
I think we are mature enough to explore that. I have to wonder why Jesus never told the men traveling with him they would be his bride someday, then assumed to be a feminine man marrying a male. According to what I have learned of ancient Jews, that would have either immediately netted Jesus no Jewish disciples at all, or be subject to another stoning attempt by Jews. What Jesus did teach was the simile of the beauty of a Jewish wedding being like the beauty of being a born again child of God in Christ. He never came out saying the Jewish wedding of a man and woman simile was the way the kingdom of heaven is literally like.
There are other similies Jesus used that obviously were not the actual case of life in heaven. He never once declared those men as wives, but instead of
"servants", called them "friends".
John 15:15 (KJV)
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
The Friends of a Jewish bridegroom were never equated to the "Bride" here on earth. We Christians remain, according to Jesus' determination, friends of the Bridegroom. That's a high honor in any Jewish wedding. Us friends party with the the groom before and after the wedding itself. Even gentile friends, these days, are invited to the groom's party where no female attends the best "bachelor's party" affordable.
The grooms' friend party is before the actual wedding ceremony that immediately follows, between the bride and groom only. That's why I accept that the Lamb's wedding feast comes a little later (an hour or two), the Friends attending, witnessing what follows, the physical union of friends of Christ (brethren) and the groom Jesus. That leaves the question of who the Bride is. The Bride was never equated to the company of her friends of the Bride or the Groom. The Bride is then once equated to the concept of the union of the friends concerning the bride (Heaven, representing all saints of OT and NT and current) and the Groom, Jesus, with Heaven, a place called the Lamb's Bride. It was never taught to be an ideal marriage like between a physical man and woman. It was a similar husband/wife scenario as depicted in Hosea. Heaven is not accessible to anyone even visiting there who is corrupted, so all there must be earlier cleansed by the blood of Jesus, coming in clothed in the robe of righteousness, identifying each member as a true friend of Christ. All such folks are then part of the population of Heaven, the whole of which is the Bride by association with the PURE inhabiting the land of the pure.
When the simile Jesus taught by came to the end of it, the door was closed to any others wanting inside the party. That would exclude all those later found eligible. A primay concern of God is the salvaion of Israel. That intent would keep the bridegroom's door open as long as possible, while the bride's friends are scrambling to refill their lamps. That, to me, pushes the opportunity to attend closer to the end of the tribulation, even on the last day of it.
Loyal
Dovegiven....you have a wonderful way with words. You are right...We are not a bride in the way of a woman with a man but we are in the similitude of a wedding couple. Many Christians, I would hope the vast majority, will be part of that 'bride' but many too will miss out, and be part of the party. Being part of that bride is not automatic with being born again either....For example.....The 'bride' is one who has made 'herself' ready... The bride is one who is watching for Him.....
Active
Oh citizens of Heaven while yet roaming earth, look up, for the celebration of your homecoming is neigh. Believe and prepare. Scripture backing that:
2 Peter 1:9-11 (KJV)
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Read it all to know what things, like a fitting bride should do to prepare for her groom. It means to give all yourself, the best, for Him.
2 Peter 1:9-11 (KJV)
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Read it all to know what things, like a fitting bride should do to prepare for her groom. It means to give all yourself, the best, for Him.
Active
Ah, but that compliment must belong to the Lord, for he is my lighthouse. Where would this ship be without His light? There is one song set for my funeral should the Lord delay, and that is The Lighthouse. His Spirit is welcome to my tongue and fingertips as yours. When a ship at sea can line up with a lighthouse and stars, or when all the seamaster's lighthouses are lined up, it's safe to proceed to port.