The Timing of the Marriage Supper

Popular dispensational theology teaches that the Church is taken up to heaven prior to the start of what is known as the great tribulation. Immediately, the marriage supper of the Lamb takes place in heaven, while those who have been left behind go through the horrors of the tribulation.

It would do us well to look into this a bit deeper however, as the Bible has much to say on this subject, and it doesn't align with what many of us have been taught.

I would like to examine two passages found in the book of Isaiah, along with a few other passages to provide clarity. Both of these portions of scripture pertain to the time of Israel's ultimate deliverance at the return of their Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

2. In that day the branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel.

3. It will come about that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy- everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem.

4. When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgement and the spirit of burning,

5. then the LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy.

6. There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.

Isaiah 4:2-6 NASB

This prophecy is foretelling the day of Israel's national salvation. At the return of Christ they will recognize Him and go through a time of deep sorrow and repentance (Zechariah 13:10-13:1).

The great tribulation has brought the nation to its knees so to speak, and those who have survived will find grace poured out, their sins washed away, and in the words of Paul the apostle, "So all Israel will be saved." (See Romans 11:25-27 for context).

But there is more. We see mention of a cloud by day, and a flaming fire by night over all who are assembled in the area of Mount Zion. Remember the significance of the cloud and pillar of fire leading the people out of Egypt, and through the wilderness? God's presence went with the people in the cloud and in the fire.

In Exodus we read of the giving of the law at Mount Sinai. We again see the presence of God descend upon the Mount in fire and cloud (Exodus 19:18). In Exodus 24:1-18 the people affirm the covenant that God has made with them. Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Elihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up and saw God. They ate and drank with Him before Moses ascended the Mountain to receive the stone tablets of the law.

15. Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.

16.The glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 

17. And to the eyes of the sons of Isreal the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top.

18. Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 24:15-18 NASB

The making of this covenant was a betrothal between the LORD and the nation of Israel. When we read the verses where God accused His wayward people of spiritual adultery, it was more than a metaphor for Idolatry, in a very unique sense, Idolatry is indeed adultery.

 We read in Hosea of God's sorrow over His adulterous bride. He says He is no longer Israel's husband, and they are no longer His bride (Hosea 2:2), yet we see God's yearning to heal and restore as well when He states that He cannot give them up, but will bring them back ( Hosea 11:8-12). We have this promise found in Hosea 2:19-20,

      

19. "I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in loving kindness and in compassion,

20. And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD.

Just as we saw in the above passage in Isaiah, the context of this chapter in Hosea pertains to the restoration of Israel after the tribulation. They will go through the valley of Achor (trouble) and find hope (Hosea 2:24-23). Tribulation comes first, then the marriage.

Isaiah chapters 24-27 once again set the context for the next few verses I will quote. Again the theme is Israel's ultimate deliverance following the great tribulation. Chapter 24 speaks of the Earth's devastation prior to the Lord ruling in Mount Zion. What follows is a song of praise. This is where we read of a future feast.

6. The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;

7. A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, and refined aged wine.

8. And on this mountain He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 25:6-8 NASB

 This is speaking of the same event. The people are gathered at Mount Zion where Jesus has had come to set up His kingdom. Israel has turned from their unbelief and has experienced the grace of God. They have been restored, and now it is time for the marriage supper. 

Back in Isaiah 4:5 we read of a canopy over all who are assembled there. In Hebrew this is referred to as a "chûppâh". Traditional Jewish weddings to this day are performed under a chûppâh or canopy. For those familiar with the musical "Fiddler on the roof," remember the scene where Hodel is waiting for the train with her Father, Tevye? She is on her way to Siberia where Perchik has been sent to prison. When Tevye expresses his concert about her upcoming marriage to Perchik she assured him that "there will be a canopy."

The readers of this prophecy would have caught the allusion to a marriage and wedding feast in these passages. The idea of the marriage supper of the Lamb is not a New Testament idea, it has its beginning in the Old. It is quite possible that Jesus had this in mind when He made this statement,

"I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."

Matt 8:11 NIV

He makes this statement after seeing the faith of a Roman centurion, foretelling the inclusion of the Gentiles into the kingdom as well. Likewise the apostle Paul declared that Gentile believers will be grafted in to the same root (Romans 11:13-17). 

Indeed, we are one body, Jew and Gentile believers in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:12-16). Writing to Gentile believers in Corinth, Paul has this to say,

For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

2 Corinthians 11:2

There are not two brides, but one. A teaching propagated by the Scofield study Bible states that Israel is the bride of Jehovah, while the Church is the bride of Christ. There is no confirmation of such an idea found in scripture. To believe this you must either destroy the unity of the Trinity, in effect making multiple Gods, or else make God a polygamist. I choose to do neither.

When Jesus returns, He is coming for one bride and partaking in one wedding feast.

7. "Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."

8. 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.

9. 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 the true words of God."

Revelation 19:7-9 NASB

This announcement is made immediately before heaven opens and Jesus returns. The tribulation is over, the antichrist and the armies assembled with him are about to be destroyed at the coming of Christ.

There are four points I would like to make after considering all of these passages of scripture.

1. The marriage supper does not take place in heaven. The passages we looked at all show the opposite. The supper will be celebrated on the earth.

2. The marriage supper does not occur prior to the great tribulation. The passages we have studied all point to a post tribulation event. Jesus returns at the end of the final time of "Jacob's trouble" and Israel is redeemed as a nation. Then the marriage supper occurs.

3. The Church does not celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven while Israel suffers under the scourge of the antichrist on the earth. There is only one bride of Christ, and only one marriage supper. 

4. When one contemplates all of this it becomes plain that the pre-trib rapture theology is in error. Scripture abundantly proves the opposite to be true instead. It is far better to know the truth and prepare ourselves for what is coming than to be be caught by surprise when what we have been taught is proven to be false.

Coming Like a Thief

"But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will 

Matt 24:43-44 NASB

Jesus exhorts us to be alert and ready for His appearing. While it is true that we do not know the day or hour of His coming, this statement does not stand alone by itself. Jesus has just finished foretelling the signs and events leading up to His return, so we must take this passage as a whole. We have been given distinct things to watch for. His coming will be unexpected for many, but those who are awake and watching will be ready as they see the signs fulfilled.

Now as to the times and epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not if night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 NASB

In a similar fashion Paul admonishes his readers to be on the alert as well. While the return of Christ will be a sudden unexpected event for many, those who are alert and watching will not be caught unaware. 

We see two groups listed in this passage. Those who are of the light and day, and those who are of darkness and the night. From this we can see that the unsaved world will be taken by surprise when Jesus appears in judgement. They will not be ready, all of the signs of His soon appearance will go largely unoticed. Just like the people in the days of Noah were oblivious to what was about to occur, so too, those who are living in darkness will be caught by surprise.

Those who are of the light, the faithful, will be alert and ready. They will see the signs, and know that Christ is about to come. They will be ready to meet Him. 

So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

Revelation 3:3-4 NASB

 Revelation records for us many events and signs that will occur prior to the thief-like appearance of Jesus Christ. Their are seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls of judgement that all culminate together at the final moment when the sky splits and Christ returns in power and glory. The last warning we read in relation to His sudden appearance is found in the context of the gathering of the armies for the battle of Armageddon.

 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and it dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. ("Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, do that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.") And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon

Revelation 16:12-16 NASB

Any Christian alive at this point in history has lived through the most intense three and one half years of time. They have witnessed the signs that have occured over the previous seven years and are looking up because their redemption is drawing near. 

Take note of the fact that this is not an event that happens before the tribulation! Popular dispensational theology teaches that Jesus comes like a thief to gather the saints in a secret rapture, removing them from the earth before the tribulation begins. What we have just read contradicts this erroneous teaching. As the armies of the world are gathering for the final battle, the warning still stands. Jesus has not yet come like a thief, we must remain vigilant.

The rest of the world will be eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage. They have taken the mark. They can buy and sell. No one is persecuting them, in fact, they worship the beast that is persecuting Christians. They will cheer as the antichrist invades Israel. Yes, as these events all unfold they will be caught by surprise when Jesus unexpectedly appears. By the time dread overtakes them it will be too late.

"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:28 NASB

What things are Jesus referring to? The events leading up to His return. The things He has just mentioned in the previous verses (Luke 21:10-27).

"Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all  those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Luke 21:34-36 NASB

We must be prayerfully alert. Our strength comes from God. Many do not expect to see these days. They believe that they will be long gone, taken up when Jesus comes like a thief to rapture them. But here we see that we must have the strength to endure, to hold fast without giving in, as the events of the last days unfold around us. Our focus must be on Christ, we must look up expectantly, waiting for His sudden appearance. How tragic for one to be this close, only to give up under pressure.