The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
A 75-day interval apparently separates the end of the tribulation period from the beginning of the millennial kingdom. During this brief interim, a number of significant events transpire.
For example, the image of the antichrist that had caused the abomination of desolation at the midpoint of the tribulation will be removed from the temple after 30 days. “From the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days” (Daniel 12:11). The last half of the tribulation lasts only 1260 days (or three and a half years), so the abomination that makes desolate is removed from the Jewish temple 30 days after the tribulation ends.
An additional 45 days must also be added into the prophetic timetable: “Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days” (verse 12 ). The 1335 days minus the 1290 days means another 45 days are added into the mix. Apparently, this is when the judgment of the nations takes place (Matthew 25:31-46). The Jewish survivors of the tribulation period will also be judged.
Other key events probably take place during this interval. Here are six.
1. The antichrist and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire. “The beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur” (Revelation 19:20).
It is interesting to observe that the great white throne judgment, in which wicked human beings are judged and then cast into the lake of fire, does not occur until after the millennial kingdom. This means that for a full 1000 years, the antichrist and the false prophet will be the only inhabitants of the lake of fire. They will have plenty of time to ponder the futility of their efforts.
2. Satan will also be bound from this point till the very end of the millennial kingdom.
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer (Revelation 20:1-3).
3. Old Testament saints will be resurrected from the dead. “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead” (Isaiah 26:19). “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).
4. Finally, tribulation saints who had died are resurrected from the dead. “I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).
5. Renald Showers suggest that the governmental structure of the coming millennial kingdom will be set up during these extra 45 days. Scripture reveals that the saints will reign with Christ in the millennial kingdom (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 20:4-6). Showers notes, “After the saints and unbelievers have been separated and the unbelievers are removed in judgment, it will take time to appoint saints to different government positions and inform them of their various responsibilities.”1
6. It is also entirely feasible that the marriage feast of Christ, the divine Bridegroom, and His bride, the church, will take place at the close of the 75-day period. If so, it will be the highlight of that two-and-a-half-month period. The invitation to the marriage feast was previously mentioned in Revelation 19:9 (which just precedes the second coming): “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” It would thus make sense that the marriage feast would take place shortly after.
Following the 75-day interval, Christ will set up His millennial kingdom (Isaiah 2:2-4; Ezekiel 37:1-13; 40–48; Micah 4:1-7; Revelation 20). Before discussing this glorious kingdom, however, let’s consider further details on the judgment of the nations, the judgment of the Jews, and the marriage feast of Jesus the Bridegroom and His bride, the church.
Matthew 25:31-46 describes the judgment of the nations, which takes place following the second coming of Christ. The nations are comprised of the sheep and the goats, representing the saved and the lost among the Gentiles. According to Matthew 25:32, they are intermingled and require separation by a special judgment.
Some interpreters have argued that this judgment is the same as the great white throne judgment in Revelation 20:11-13, a judgment that takes place at the end of the millennial kingdom. However, a comparison of the judgment in Matthew with the one in Revelation makes this view impossible.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS
MATTHEW 25:31-46
occurs at the second coming
occurs on earth
includes the sheep, the goats, and the brothers
based on treatment of Christ’s brothers
The righteous enter the kingdom, and the unrighteous are cast into the lake of fire.
No resurrection is mentioned.
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
REVELATION 20:11-15
occurs after the millennial kingdom
occurs at the great white throne
includes the unsaved dead of all time
based on works
The unsaved dead are cast into the lake of fire (none of the saved are present).
The unsaved dead are resurrected to be judged.
Clearly, a plain reading of the text indicates that these judgments are not the same. The judgment of the nations deals with the Gentile nations and takes place following the second coming of Christ.
During the tribulation period, people will not be able to buy or sell if they don’t receive the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:16-17). Christians will need to act sacrificially toward those who are less fortunate.
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” Then he will answer them, saying, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (Matthew 25:31-46).
Notice the basis of the judgment of these Gentile peoples. One’s destiny—entering Christ’s kingdom or entering into punishment—hinges on how one treated Christ’s brothers.
Who are these brothers? A comparison of this passage with the details of the tribulation recorded in Revelation 4–19 suggests the possibility that the term brothers may be referring to the 144,000 Jews mentioned in Revelation 7, Christ’s Jewish brothers who bear witness of Him during the tribulation. Bible expositor Stan Toussaint, one of my former professors at Dallas Theological Seminary, notes, “It seems best to say that ‘brothers of Mine’ is a designation of the godly remnant of Israel that will proclaim the gospel of the kingdom unto every nation of the world.”2 Bible expositor Merrill F. Unger agrees.
During the tribulation period, God will sovereignly call and save 144,000 Jews…So glorious and wonderful will be the ministry of the 144,000 saved Jews and so faithful will be their powerful testimony, the King on His throne of glory will not be ashamed to call them “My brothers.” More than that, He will consider Himself so intimately united to them that what was done or not done to them is the same as being actually done or not done to Himself.3
Bible expositor J. Dwight Pentecost likewise notes that the 144,000 Jews…
will be under a death sentence by the beast. They will refuse to carry the beast’s mark, and so they will not be able to buy and sell. Consequently, they will have to depend on those to whom they minister for hospitality, food, and support. Only those who receive the message will jeopardize their lives by extending hospitality to the messengers. Therefore what is done for them will be an evidence of their faith in Christ, that is, what is done for them will be done for Christ.4
The Bible Knowledge Commentary provides this summary.
The expression “these brothers” must refer to a third group that is neither sheep nor goats. The only possible group would be Jews, physical brothers of the Lord. In view of the distress in the Tribulation period, it is clear that any believing Jew will have a difficult time surviving (cf. 24:15-21). The forces of the world dictator will be doing everything possible to exterminate all Jews (cf. Rev. 12:17). A Gentile going out of his way to assist a Jew in the Tribulation will mean that Gentile has become a believer in Jesus Christ during the Tribulation. By such a stand and action, a believing Gentile will put his life in jeopardy. His works will not save him; but his works will reveal that he is redeemed.5
Here, then, is the main point: The antichrist and the false prophet will wield economical control over the world during the tribulation period (Revelation 13), but God will still be at work. His redeemed will come to the aid of Christ’s Jewish brethren as they bear witness to Christ all around the world. These will be invited into Christ’s millennial kingdom.
These saved Gentiles are not yet given resurrection bodies. They will enter the kingdom in their mortal bodies and continue to have babies throughout the millennium (just as their Jewish counterparts will—see next chapter). Though longevity will characterize the millennial kingdom, both mortal Jews and Gentiles will continue to age and die (see Isaiah 65:20). They will be resurrected at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:4-5). (More on this later in the book.)
The judgment of the Jews is described in Ezekiel 20:34-38 (see also Matthew 25:1-30).
I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord God. I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Here are four important facts about this judgment.
• It will take place after the Lord has gathered the Israelites from all around the earth to Palestine.
• Christ will purge out the rebels—those who have refused to turn to Him for salvation.
• Believers from among this group will enter into Christ’s millennial kingdom, where they will then enjoy the blessings of the new covenant (verse 37; see also Jeremiah 31:31).
• These saved Jews are not yet given resurrection bodies. They will enter the kingdom in their mortal bodies and continue to have babies throughout the millennium (just as their Gentile counterparts will). Though longevity will characterize the millennial kingdom, both mortal Jews and Gentiles will continue to age and die (Isaiah 65:20). They will be resurrected at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:4). (More on this later in the book.)
Earlier in the book, I noted that Scripture describes the relationship between Christ and the church as a marriage. Christ is the Bridegroom, and the church is the bride. Jesus Christ, the Lamb, frequently referred to Himself as a Bridegroom (see Matthew 9:15; 22:2-14; 25:1-13; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35; 14:15-24; John 3:29). The church is regarded as a virgin bride awaiting the coming of her heavenly Bridegroom (2 Corinthians 11:2). While she waits, she keeps herself pure, unstained from the world.
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; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
And the angel said to me, “Write this: 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).
As we saw in chapters 3 and 5, Hebrew weddings included three phases: The bride became betrothed to the bridegroom, the bridegroom came to claim his bride, and the marriage supper was celebrated—a feast lasting up to a week. All three of these phases are seen in Christ’s relationship to the church, the bride of Christ.
First, as individuals living during the church age come to salvation, they become a part of the church, the bride of Christ, betrothed to the divine Bridegroom.
Second, the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) comes to claim His bride at the rapture, at which time He takes the bride to heaven, the Father’s house, where He has prepared a place to live (John 14:1-3). The actual marriage takes place in heaven, sometime after the church has been raptured, prior to the second coming (Revelation 19:11-16). The bride is dressed beautifully in fine linen (verses 8,14).
Third, the marriage supper of the Lamb apparently takes place on earth during the 75-day interval between the end of the tribulation period and the beginning of the millennial kingdom.