Rev. 19:9 ... "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
This text is the fourth of the seven beatitudes found in the Book of Revelation. A beatitude is the pronouncement of a blessing upon a person or group of people. God blesses someone when He bestows a favor upon him. In this case the favor, which is offered to everyone, is an invitation "to the marriage supper of the Lamb." But what does this mean?
As usual in Revelation we are dealing with symbolism. The symbol here is the Jewish form of marriage, which was conducted in three stages. First, there was the betrothal, the pledge of the bride and groom to marry each other. This was a formal arrangement, even to the extent of being legally binding. To dissolve it was considered a divorce. The second stage was a period of waiting during which the couple made preparations. It was often prolonged, stretching out several years. Jacob served Laban seven years for Leah and seven more for Rachel. The third stage was the marriage supper, during which the couple were united as husband and wife. When the time for this event came, the groom went to the bride's home with a procession of friends and family. Singers and musicians were secured to enhance the festivities. The Parable of the Virgins in Matthew 25 features this third stage of the Jewish marriage, especially the groom's procession to claim his bride.
This Jewish convention is used to show the relation of Jesus to His church. While He was on earth, Jesus selected the church to be His holy bride, (Eph. 5:22-23; Rev. 21:2). He was then betrothed to her. Consequently, the church is now the betrothed, beloved bride of Christ. When He returned to heaven, (Acts 1:9-11), the period of waiting began. We are assured that, even at present, Jesus is preparing in heaven a home for His bride, (Jno. 14:1-3), while His bride on earth is preparing herself to be taken up by her Lord and beloved Groom. When He returns from heaven, (I Ths. 4:16-17), Jesus will bring with Him a grand procession of angels (Jude 14) to claim His bride and enjoy the great marriage supper with her in the beautiful home He has prepared for her, (Rev. 22:5). Indeed, "blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." They will be those who constitute His bride, i.e., they will be Christians who are the members of His church. More specifically, they will be those who made themselves ready (v.7) by clothing their lives with righteousness (v.8) during their years of toil on earth.
This passage, (Rev. 19:7-9), emphasizes the special importance and sanctity of the church. Every-one needs to become aware of this emphasis, because there is growing disrespect in society toward the church. In many instances this negative attitude advances into contempt and avowed hostility. There are those who want to be identified as Christians, but who want nothing to do with the church. Their cry is, "Jesus, yes! The church, no!"
A true Christian cannot be alienated from the true church. It is not possible to be a Christian in the primitive sense without being a faithful, active member of the church. When a person is saved, the Lord Himself adds the person to the church (Acts 2:47), because that is where He wants him to be. To separ-ate yourself from the church is to forfeit your identity as a Christian and lose the blessing of Rev. 19:9. Those who show disrespect toward the church dishonor Christ's beloved bride. Those who hold the church in contempt offend Christ's bride, and we can be sure He will settle accounts with them. Those who attack the church make themselves enemies of Christ. Only those who honor the church, uphold her sanctity, and bravely defend her honor, will be "invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb."
