Revelation 19:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;

NIV: Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

NASB: Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.'

CSB: Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself.

NLT: Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

The multitude John heard praising the Lord (Revelation 19:1–5) called for rejoicing. Here, again, they give God glory because the marriage supper of the Lamb is beginning and the bride has attired herself appropriately. This event is a key piece of biblical prophecy, and of the end times. This "marriage supper" carries heavy symbolism about the relationship between Christ and the church.

Bible scholars are divided on the question of where this marriage supper takes place. Some say it takes place in heaven, whereas others say it takes place on earth. The context concerns the Lord's reign on earth, arguing for the marriage supper taking place there. Further, the customs surrounding Hebrew marriages points to its location as on earth. Traditionally, a dowry preceded the wedding, and then the bridegroom would come and claim his bride. He would then take her to his father's house, where the wedding would take place. Finally, he would return with his bride to celebrate the wedding feast.

Jesus paid a price for His bride, the church (Mark 10:45). Someday, He will come for His bride and escort her to heaven, where He will present her to Himself as pure and spotless (John 14:1–3; Ephesians 5:25–27). At His second coming Jesus will return to earth with His bride to celebrate the marriage supper. The bride of Christ has made herself ready by being with the Bridegroom. First John 3:2 explains that when Christians see Jesus, either through death or at the rapture, they will be like Him.

Revelation 19:6–10 introduces the marriage supper of the Lamb, occurring immediately before the commencement of Jesus' millennial reign on the earth. Jesus spoke about marriage suppers in Matthew 22:1–14 and 25:1–13. He specifically referred to feasting in the kingdom of heaven, with many from the east and the west, including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Matthew 8:11). The announcement of the marriage supper of the Lamb precedes Jesus' return to earth to judge His enemies and to establish His kingdom (Revelation 19:11–21).

Revelation 19 begins with a multitude in heaven singing a doxology to God. He is praised for judging religious Babylon and avenging the martyrs. They are joined by the twenty-four elders (Revelation 4). Voices cry out joyfully that the Lord reigns and the marriage supper of the Lamb is ready. Then, John sees heaven open and observes Jesus—now coming as the glorious and invincible King of kings and Lord of lords—as He descends from heaven to execute judgment. The armies of earth gather to battle the Lord. The battle concludes with the Antichrist and False Prophet being thrown into the lake of fire and the graphic slaughter of their followers.

This chapter describes the victorious second coming of Christ, His victory over the Antichrist and the False Prophet after the fall of Babylon (Revelation 17—18). Christ's first arrival on earth was to redeem (Matthew 2; Luke 2:1–21; John 1:1–14; Galatians 4:1–5). The purpose of His second coming is judgment and the establishment of His reign on earth (Psalm 2). This is separate from the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17), the event in which Jesus returns in the air to take Christians from earth to be with Him. Jesus' second coming begins the millennial kingdom, leading up to the final judgments and the appearance of the New Jerusalem.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''