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.
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