Supper Of The Lamb

One morning during prayer my thoughts drifted to a few scriptures pointing to the joy all Christians will experience the day after we are snatched from this dark world. What came to mind was THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB. Supper? What is supper? I mean, we all know physically what supper is, but what does it mean spiritually? Those were my thoughts. It might seem odd that I would question what the word supper means but I'm always curious about the meaning of God's Word beyond what we've heard or been taught through religious sources. Will we literally be eating food? Will our "glorified" bodies require food? My curiosity took me into further study regarding the wedding supper. I found some things I'd like to share I think you'll find interesting. According to everything believers know, all Christians should be watching and waiting for the appearance of the Bridegroom the Lord Jesus (2 Timothy 4:8). The Marriage Supper is a glorious celebration of all who are in Christ Jesus. In Revelation 19:7-10, John saw and heard the multitudes in heaven praising the Lord God at the wedding feast of the Lamb. The wedding feast of the Lamb is the marriage supper which was about to begin. To understand what the marriage supper of the Lamb is, you need to consider the three significant wedding customs in the time of Christ. This is what I learned:

In biblical times there were three major parts of a wedding feast. Keep these in mind and remember your relationship with Christ!

1. A Marriage Contract: Wedding customs in the time of Christ were signed by the parents of the bride and the bridegroom. Additionally, this contract was signed by the parents of the bridegroom, and the bridegroom himself would pay a dowry (down payment) to the bride or her parents. Such a process began the betrothal period, which today would be called the engagement. One example of this was the one Joseph and Mary were in when Mary was found to be with baby Jesus in the womb (Matthew 1:18; Luke 2:5).

2. A Torchlight Parade Through the Streets: The bridegroom accompanied by his male friends went to the house of the bride at midnight, creating a torchlight parade through the streets. Such a parade would not be a surprise to the bride as she knew well in advance such an event was taking place so she would be ready with her maidens. They would then all join the parade and end up at the bridegroom's home. *Such a custom is the basis of the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.

3. The Marriage Supper Itself: During the time of Jesus, the marriage supper itself would go on for days as illustrated by the wedding at Cana in John 2:1-2. The events described by Jesus in Revelation 19:7-10 describe the third phase of the wedding feast the marriage supper of the Lamb. John isn’t meaning to skip the first two phases of the wedding feast customs but is communicating they already have happened. NOTE! The first phase was completed on earth when each individual Christian placed his or her faith in Jesus Christ. The dowry, in this case, was paid by the bridegroom's parent (God the Father) by of the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the Bride’s behalf. 

The Church is betrothed to Christ much the same way as the wise virgin in the parable. Why? Because all Christians should be watching and waiting for the appearance of the Bridegroom the Lord Jesus (2 Timothy 4:8). The second phase is when Christ comes to claim His bride and take the Church to the Father’s house in heaven. The Marriage Supper follows as the third and final step and is a glorious celebration of all who are in Christ Jesus. Isn't that interesting? Can you see the correlation between a wedding feast at the time of Christ as compared to the wedding feast we will partake of in heaven? Will we actually eat food in heaven? Yes. Will we have bodies? Yes. Remember, before Adam and Eve sinned they had bodies MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD (uncorrupted, pure, without sin). Though they had not yet been corrupted God gave them of every tree to eat (except one) and stated in Genesis 1:29, "And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food." When we are once again "restored," when we are changed from corruptible to incorruptible, (for this corruptible must put on incorruptible, and this mortal must put on immortality) as written, "BEHOLD, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible shall have put on incorruptible, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

Clearly, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptible, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory" (verse 54). THIS is eternal life! We will live forever, never to die again, with Christ and enjoy life in bodies like Adam and Eve BEFORE they knew no sin! There will be only perfection and holiness. No lust of our eyes, no lust of the flesh, no pride whatsoever. When Eve was taken from Adam, he said, "This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because she was taken out of the man." Adam had bone! Adam had flesh - before the fall. We will have "flesh" but unlike what we know of now. When Jesus rose from the dead, His disciples could literally see Him. Jesus had a body. "God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead" (Acts 10:40-41). Also, eat with him (Acts 1:4) and they drank as well (Acts 10:41). His risen body ate, drank, walked, communed, etc.

Finally, as Christians will one day find our ultimate delight at the time when Jesus consummates all things (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). Revelation 19 describes the day where we will become like Jesus (changed in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump). On that day, we will wear the most beautiful wedding gown made up of our righteous deeds (Revelation 19:6-8). As glorified Christians, the people of God will finally fulfill the purpose for which we’ve been created, which is a complete, unbroken fellowship with God. Such joy we will experience on that day is beyond description as we will see Christ face-to-face (Revelation 19:9). Every born again Christian will experience this day because they have been declared righteous in the Lord’s courtroom. And we will celebrate this union with Him with an unforgettable heavenly banquet!

Until He comes,

-Pat-